Liquid Metal Electrodes for Pyrochemical Activities: Design and Testing in Molten Salt

Project details

At the Radiochemistry Expert Group (RCY), research activities on pyroprocessing span several key areas: monitoring impurities in molten LiCl-KCl; conducting electrorefining experiments to separate actinide elements; performing electroreduction processes aimed at recovering actinides; and designing and testing sensor systems suitable for high-temperature molten salt environments. The candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to these ongoing efforts, particularly in the experimental development and optimization of liquid metal electrodes for actinide monitoring.

This internship will focus on the design and testing of liquid metal electrodes for the electrochemical detection and separation of actinide compounds in molten LiCl-KCl. The work will be conducted in preparation for future radioactive experiments, emphasizing non-radioactive analogs and simulation conditions.

Candidate liquid metals—such as gallium, bismuth, indium, and various eutectic alloys—will be evaluated for their electrochemical behavior, thermal stability, and compatibility with molten LiCl-KCl salt. The aim is to develop a reliable liquid electrode system that can operate under the demanding conditions of pyrochemical processes, particularly electrorefining. Special attention will be given to how these electrodes interact with actinide compounds, using voltammetric techniques to simulate and study separation behavior. The project will focus on optimizing the electrode design for long-term stability, reproducibility, and sensitivity, laying the groundwork for future radioactive experiments involving actinide recovery.

Objectives

The objectives of the thesis would be the following:

• To investigate the electrochemical properties of selected liquid metals in molten LiCl-KCl.
• To design and test liquid electrode systems suitable for glovebox and high-temperature operations.
• To simulate actinide detection and separation using non-radioactive surrogates (e.g., lanthanides or transition metals).
• To evaluate suitable electrochemical technique for the purpose (CV, SWV, NPV,...)
• To assess interface behavior, and reproducibility of liquid electrodes.
• To prepare the system for future radioactive testing by establishing baseline performance and calibration protocols.