Direct Electrodeposition of UO2 from Uranyl Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide Dissolved in 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide Room Temperature Ionic Liquid System

Journal Article · Mon Nov 11 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Electrochimica Acta

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2013.10.187· OSTI ID:1115345

Freiderich, John W. ^[1]; Wanigasekara, Eranda P. ^[1]; Sun, Xiao-Guang ^[1]; Meisner, Roberta Ann ^[2]; Meyer, III, Harry M. ^[2]; Luo, Huimin ^[3]; Delmau, Laetitia Helene ^[1]; Dai, Sheng ^[1]; Moyer, Bruce A ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Sciences Division
2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Energy and Transportation Science Division

Our study demonstrates a direct electrodeposition of UO₂ at a Pt cathode from a solution of uranyl bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [UO₂(NTf₂)₂)] in a bulk room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (EMIM⁺NTf₂^–). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies revealed two reduction waves corresponding to the conversion of uranium(VI) to uranium(IV), and a mechanism for the overall electroreduction is proposed. A controlled-potential experiment was performed, holding the reduction potential at–1.0 V for 24 h to obtain a brown-black deposit of UO₂ on the Pt cathode. The Faradaic efficiency of the reduction process was determined to be >80%. The UO₂deposit was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Shared Research Equipment Collaborative Research Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Fuel Cycle Technologies (NE-5); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1115345
• Journal Information: Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 118; ISSN 0013-4686
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Uranium Dioxide
Ionic Liquids
Electrodeposition