Anodic dissolution of U, Zr and U–Zr alloy and convolution voltammetry of Zr4+|Zr2+ couple in molten LiCl–KCl eutectic

The anodic dissolution of U and Zr metal was studied in LiCl–KCl–UCl3 and LiCl–KCl–ZrCl4, respectively, at 773 K by cyclic voltammetry and compared with their respective dissolution behaviour in blank LiCl–KCl eutectic. The anodic dissolution of U–Zr alloy in LiCl–KCl–UCl3 was also studied at 773 K to compare with the dissolution of U and Zr. The transfer coefficients evaluated by Tafel analysis and the method of Allen–Hickling for U and Zr dissolution were found to be in fair agreement with each other. U dissolution in LiCl–KCl–UCl3 and Zr dissolution LiCl–KCl–ZrCl4 were also studied by chronoamperometry and the diffusion coefficient value of U3+ was calculated to be in the range of 2.9 × 10−5 to 3.3 × 10−5 cm2 s−1 which is in agreement with those reported in literature. Convolution voltammetric analysis of Zr4+/Zr2+ redox couple in LiCl–KCl–ZrCl4 was carried out for the first time to have a comprehensive understanding of the electrode kinetics.

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