Underpotential deposition of Li in a molten LiCl-Li2O electrolyte for the electrochemical reduction of U from uranium oxides

作者：Hur Jin Mok^*; Jeong Sang Mun; Lee Hansoo

来源：Electrochemistry Communications, 2010, 12(5): 706-709.

DOI：10.1016/j.elecom.2010.03.012

• Molten salt
• Electrochemical reduction
• Underpotential deposition
• Uranium
• Lithium

Reactive metal oxides are conventionally reduced to metal by metallothermic reduction. This paper presents on the efficient reduction method based on the electrochemical reaction in a molten LiCl-Li2O electrolyte at 650 degrees C. An underpotential deposition of Li on uranium oxides was observed that enabled the mass electrochemical reduction of U3O8 to U. An advantage of using in-situ generated Li as a reductant is that a high-speed electrochemical reduction could be achieved with a wider operating voltage window when compared to a direct electrochemical reduction.

• 出版日期2010-5