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Electrochemical properties of noble metal anodes for electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide

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Abstract

Noble metals (Rh, Pd, Ir, and Au) were investigated as O2-evolving anodes for electrolytic reduction of UO2 in LiCl–Li2O molten salt to replace Pt anodes, which are gradually consumed owing to Li2PtO3 layer formation. Anodic behaviors of these metals were examined by cyclic voltammetry. Au only showed O2 evolution in a moderate potential range without side reactions, suggesting better electrochemical stability relative to Pt anodes. With Au anodes, UO2 was electrochemically reduced to metallic U. No oxide layer was observed on the surface after the reduction. However, local dissolution remains a potential issue from a stability viewpoint.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (2012M2A8A5025697).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Fuel Cycle Process Development Group, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 989-111 Daedeok-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34057, Republic of Korea

    Sung-Wook Kim, Sang-Kwon Lee, Hyun Woo Kang, Eun-Young Choi, Wooshin Park, Sun-Seok Hong, Seung-Chul Oh & Jin-Mok Hur

  2. Department of Quantum Energy Chemical Engineering, University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea

    Sung-Wook Kim

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  1. Sung-Wook Kim
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Correspondence to Sung-Wook Kim.

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Kim, SW., Lee, SK., Kang, H.W. et al. Electrochemical properties of noble metal anodes for electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 311, 809–814 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-5107-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-5107-8

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