Corrosion/Electrochemistry of Uranium Dioxide in Slightly Alkaline Hydrogen Peroxide Solutions

MRS Online Proceedings Library volume 824, pages526–531(2004)Cite this article

Abstract

The kinetics of H2O2 reduction have been studied in slightly alkaline (pH 9.7 NaCl) solution on 1.5 at.% SIMFUEL. Using cyclic voltammetric techniques, we have shown that the cathodic reduction of H2O2 is kinetically facile on UIVUVO2+x surfaces. Carbonate ions are found to have a significant effect on the kinetics of H2O2 reduction. Suppression of the reaction rate is observed at very cathodic potentials, and has been attributed to a competition between carbonate and hydrogen peroxide for catalytic sites on the electrode surface. A small enhancement of the reduction current occurs between −200 and +100 mV vs. SCE, which appears to be due to a surface adsorbed carbonate complex. The large values of the Tafel slopes for H2O2 reduction have been interpreted in terms of a chemical-electrochemical mechanism involving surface UVspecies. The results are discussed in terms of a mixed potential model for the prediction of nuclear fuel dissolution rates under permanent disposal conditions.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded under the Industrial Research Chair Agreement between NSERC and Ontario Power Generation, Toronto, Canada.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5B7

    Jon S. Goldik, James J. Noël & David W. Shoesmith

Authors
  1. Jon S. Goldik
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  2. James J. Noël
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  3. David W. Shoesmith
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Correspondence to Jon S. Goldik.

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Goldik, J.S., Noël, J.J. & Shoesmith, D.W. Corrosion/Electrochemistry of Uranium Dioxide in Slightly Alkaline Hydrogen Peroxide Solutions. MRS Online Proceedings Library 824, 526–531 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-824-CC9.10

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