Electrochemical Properties of CeCl3 by Fitting Cyclic Voltammetry Data to a Kinetic Model Accounting for Adsorption and Nucleation

Due to the co-deposition phenomenon of actinides and rare Earth elements in the electrorefining process, understanding the electrochemical properties of rare Earth elements is crucial for element separation in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. In this paper, a kinetic model for electrorefining is established to cover the adsorption and nucleation mechanisms occurring on the electrode surface. The study simulates the cyclic voltammetry of cerium (Ce) in molten LiCl-KCl at a temperature of 773 K, with varying scan rates and concentrations, using the model. The electrochemical properties of Ce are deduced by fitting the experimental voltammetry data. The model is validated by comparing derived properties with those from experimental data. Notably, the diffusion coefficient and apparent potential obtained from the model agree well with those obtained experimentally. Finally, the effects of adsorption and nucleation parameters on the behaviors of Ce were explored.