A Liquid Alloy Anode for the Electrolytic Reduction of Uranium Oxide in Molten Lithium Chloride

A cost-effective anode material for uranium oxide electrolytic reduction in lithium chloride is still in deficiency. In this work, the application of liquid lithium-bismuth alloy anode was investigated. In the LiCl electrolyte at 923 K, UO 2 was reduced electrochemically in cathode, while Li-Bi alloy served as counter electrode. Partial reduction of UO 2 was verified by X-ray powder diffraction when the cathode potential was intentionally controlled above the lithium reduction potential. In contrast, when the precipitation of lithium metal was intentionally controlled, the reduction of UO 2 was significantly improved. The charge transfer coefficient of UO 2 /U reaction was also calculated. Regeneration of Li-Bi alloy in LiCl-Li 2 O through electrolysis was proposed. Carbon, gold, and platinum had been investigated as anode materials. According to the potential variation curve, lithium was not effectively reduced into bismuth as in pure LiCl when oxygen ion was present in the molten salt. These three materials failed to demonstrate advantage in the regeneration of Li-Bi alloy.