Underpotential deposition of Li in a molten LiCl–Li2O electrolyte for the electrochemical reduction of U from uranium oxides

Reactive metal oxides are conventionally reduced to metal by metallothermic reduction. This paper presents on the efficient reduction method based on the electrochemical reaction in a molten LiCl–Li2O electrolyte at 650 °C. An underpotential deposition of Li on uranium oxides was observed that enabled the mass electrochemical reduction of U3O8 to U. An advantage of using in-situ generated Li as a reductant is that a high-speed electrochemical reduction could be achieved with a wider operating voltage window when compared to a direct electrochemical reduction.