Study of Am electrodeposition from AmCl 3 -LiCl-KCl Molten Salt

Dean-Kersten, Bethany; Hawthorne, Krista; Williamson, Mark; Akolkar, Rohan; Duval, Christine E.

doi:10.1149/1945-7111/ad80d2

Title: Study of Am electrodeposition from AmCl ₃ -LiCl-KCl Molten Salt

Journal Article · 09 October 2024 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ad80d2 · OSTI ID:2460577

;

; Williamson, Mark;

;

In this work, the electrodeposition reaction of Am in AmCl ₃ -LiCl-KCl molten salt was studied using voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Electrodeposition of Am was shown to proceed via a two $-$ step reaction scheme, involving the one-electron transfer reduction of Am ³⁺ to Am ²⁺ , followed by the two-electron transfer reduction of intermediate Am ²⁺ to Am ⁰ . A low Coulombic efficiency of Am deposition was measured despite the Am deposition occurring within the thermodynamic stability window of the supporting LiCl-KCl electrolyte. We hypothesize that the low efficiency is due to out-diffusion of the intermediate Am ²⁺ species away from the electrode surface. Experimental observations provide evidence of a kinetically $-$ limited electrodeposition reaction, which allows for the loss of intermediate Am ²⁺ via diffusion leading to Am deposition inefficiency.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: NONE; AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 2460577

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 171; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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