High entropy oxides(HEOs)with ideal element tunability and enticing entropy-driven stability have exhibited unprecedented application potential in electrochemical lithium storage.However,the general control of dimensi...High entropy oxides(HEOs)with ideal element tunability and enticing entropy-driven stability have exhibited unprecedented application potential in electrochemical lithium storage.However,the general control of dimension and morphology remains a major challenge.Here,scalable HEO morphology modulation is implemented through a salt-assisted strategy,which is achieved by regulating the solubility of reactants and the selective adsorption of salt ions on specific crystal planes.The electrochemical properties,lithiation mechanism,and structure evolution of composition-and morphology-dependent HEO anode are examined in detail.More importantly,the potential advantages of HEOs as electrode materials are evaluated from both theoretical and experimental aspects.Benefiting from the high oxygen vacancy concentration,narrow band gap,and structure durability induced by the multi-element synergy,HEO anode delivers desirable reversible capacity and reaction kinetics.In particular,Mg is evidenced to serve as a structural sustainer that significantly inhibits the volume expansion and retains the rock salt lattice.These new perspectives are expected to open a window of opportunity to compositionally/morphologi cally engineer high-performance HEO electrodes.展开更多
Dense zirconium coatings on copper substrates were obtained in an alumina crucible and a stainless steel crucible from FLiNaK-K_(2)ZrF_(6)molten salt at 1023 K.Due to the potential difierences between copper and zirco...Dense zirconium coatings on copper substrates were obtained in an alumina crucible and a stainless steel crucible from FLiNaK-K_(2)ZrF_(6)molten salt at 1023 K.Due to the potential difierences between copper and zirconium,zirconium can difiuse into the copper substrate to form zirconium alloys on the surface of copper substrates in the course of deposition.The coating deposited in a stainless steel crucible has a gray surface.The components of the coating are mainly CuZr2alloy and Cu_(10)Zr_(7)alloy,and,the outermost layer of the coating is a layer of amorphous pure zirconium.The coating deposited in an alumina crucible has a silvery white metallic luster.The components of the coating are mainly Cu-Zr-Al intermetallic compounds,AlCu_(2)Zr,ZrAl,AlCu and CuZr.Furthermore,two types of zirconium coatings can greatly increase the hardness of the substrate.展开更多
The high-temperature molten salt pump is the core equipment in a molten salt reactor that drives the flow of the molten salt coolant.Rotor stability is key to the continuous and reliable operation of the molten salt p...The high-temperature molten salt pump is the core equipment in a molten salt reactor that drives the flow of the molten salt coolant.Rotor stability is key to the continuous and reliable operation of the molten salt pump,and the liquid seal at the wear ring can affect the dynamic characteristics of the rotor system.When the molten salt pump is operated in the hightemperature molten salt medium,thermal deformation of the submerged parts inevitably occurs,changing clearance between the stator and rotor,affecting the leakage and dynamic characteristics of the seal.In this study,the seal leakage,seal dynamic characteristics,and rotor system dynamic characteristics are simulated and analyzed using finite element simulation software based on two cases of considering the effect of seal thermal deformation effect or not.The results show a significant difference in the leakage characteristics and dynamic characteristics of the seal obtained by considering the effect of seal thermal deformation and neglecting the effect of thermal deformation.The leakage flow rate decreases,and the first-order critical speed of the seal-bearing-rotor system decrease after considering the seal’s thermal deformation.展开更多
MXenes are two-dimensional transition metal carbides and/or nitrides with unique physiochemical properties and have attracted extensive interest in numerous fields.However,current MXene synthesis methods are limited b...MXenes are two-dimensional transition metal carbides and/or nitrides with unique physiochemical properties and have attracted extensive interest in numerous fields.However,current MXene synthesis methods are limited by hazardous synthesis conditions,high production costs,or difficulty in largescale production.Therefore,a general,safe,cost-effective,and scalable synthesis method for MXenes is crucial.Here,we report the fast synthesis of MXenes in the open air using a molten salt-shielded synthesis(MS^(3))method,which uses Lewis-acid salts as etchants and a low-melting-point eutectic salt mixture as the reaction medium and shield to prevent MXene oxidation at high temperatures.Carbide and nitride MXenes,including Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x),Ti_(2)CT_(x),Ti_(3)CNT_(x),and Ti_(4)N_(3)T_(x),were successfully synthesized using the MS^(3) method.We also present the flexibility of the MS^(3) method by scaling the etching process to large batches of 20 and 60 g of Ti_(3)AlC_(2) MAX precursor in one pot.When used as negative electrodes,the prepared MS^(3)-MXenes delivered excellent electrochemical properties for high-rate Li-ion storage.展开更多
The properties of non-oxide materials are continuously revealed,and their applications in the fields of ceramics,energy,and catalysis are increasingly extensive.Regardless of the traditional binary materials or the MA...The properties of non-oxide materials are continuously revealed,and their applications in the fields of ceramics,energy,and catalysis are increasingly extensive.Regardless of the traditional binary materials or the MAX phases,the preparation methods,which are environmentally friendly,efficient,economical,and easy to scale-up,have always been the focus of attention.Molten salt synthesis has demonstrated unparalleled advantages in achieving non-oxide materials.In addition,with the development of the process in molten salt synthesis,it also shows great potential in scale-up production.In this review,the recent progress of molten salt synthesis in the preparation of binary non-oxide and MAX phase is reviewed,as well as some novel processes.The reaction mechanisms and the influence of synthetic conditions for certain materials are discussed in detail.The paper is finalized with the discussion of the application prospect and future research trends of molten salt synthesis in non-oxide materials.展开更多
Low grade magnesite is one of the main research directions in the future as the raw material for the preparation of magnesia based insulating refractories.Periclase-forsterite(MgO-Mg_(2)SiO_(4)) lightweight insulating...Low grade magnesite is one of the main research directions in the future as the raw material for the preparation of magnesia based insulating refractories.Periclase-forsterite(MgO-Mg_(2)SiO_(4)) lightweight insulating refractories were prepared by the molten salt method with high silica magnesite and tertiary talc ore as raw materials by pretreating them to get light burnt magnesia and talc,and NaCl molten salt as the reaction medium.The effects of the NaCl addition,the sintering temperature,the holding time and the raw material ratio on the sample preparation were studied.The results show that when the NaCl addition is 20% of the mass of light burnt magnesia and talc mixture,the sintering temperature is 1 200 ℃,the holding time is 6 h,and m(light burnt magnesia):m(talc)=5:5,the sample has the optimal comprehensive properties:the bulk density of 1.46 g·cm^(-3) and the apparent porosity of 55.0%.In addition,it is found that self-decomposition of talc and the formation of forsterite can form pores inside the sample.展开更多
The macroscopic characteristics of molten salts are governed by their microstructures.Research on the structures of molten salts provides the foundation for a full understanding of the physicochemical properties of mo...The macroscopic characteristics of molten salts are governed by their microstructures.Research on the structures of molten salts provides the foundation for a full understanding of the physicochemical properties of molten salts as well as a deeper analysis of the microscopic electrolysis process in molten salts.Information about the microstructure of matter can be obtained with the help of several speculative and experimental procedures.In this review,the advantages and disadvantages of the various test procedures used to determine the microstructures of molten salts are compared.The typical coordination configurations of metal ions in molten salt systems are also summarized.Furthermore,the impact of temperature,anions,cations,and metal oxides(O2-)on the structures of molten salts is discussed in detail.The accuracy and completeness of the information on molten salt structures need to be investigated by the integration of multiple methods and interdisciplinary fields.Information on the microstructure and coordination of molten salts deepens the understanding of the elementary elements of the microstructure of matter.This paper,which is based on the review of the coordination states of metal ions in molten salts,is hoped to inspire researchers to explore the inter-relationship between the microstructure and macroscopic properties of materials.展开更多
From a safety point of view, it is important to study the damages and reliability of molten salt reactor structural alloy materials, which are subjected to extreme environments due to neutron irradiation, molten salt ...From a safety point of view, it is important to study the damages and reliability of molten salt reactor structural alloy materials, which are subjected to extreme environments due to neutron irradiation, molten salt corrosion, fission product attacks, thermal stress, and even combinations of these. In the past few years, synchrotron radiation-based materials characterization techniques have proven to be effective in revealing the microstructural evolution and failure mechanisms of the alloys under surrogating operation conditions. Here, we review the recent progress in the investigations of molten salt corrosion,tellurium(Te) corrosion, and alloy design. The valence states and distribution of chromium(Cr) atoms, and the diffusion and local atomic structure of Te atoms near the surface of corroded alloys have been investigated using synchrotron radiation techniques, which considerably deepen the understandings on the molten salt and Te corrosion behaviors. Furthermore, the structure and size distribution of the second phases in the alloys have been obtained, which are helpful for the future development of new alloy materials.展开更多
Molten salt is an excellent medium for chemical reaction,energy transfer,and storage.Molten salt innovative technologies should be developed to recover metals from secondary resources and reserve metals from primary n...Molten salt is an excellent medium for chemical reaction,energy transfer,and storage.Molten salt innovative technologies should be developed to recover metals from secondary resources and reserve metals from primary natural sources.Among these technologies,molten salt electrolysis is an economic and environment-friendly method to extract metals from waste materials.From the perspective of molten salt characteristics,the application of molten salts in chemistry,electrochemistry,energy,and thermal storage should be comprehensively elaborated.This review discusses further directions for the research and development of molten salt electrolysis and their use for metal recovery from various metal wastes,such as magnet scrap,nuclear waste,and cemented carbide scrap.Attention is placed on the development of various electrolysis methods for different metal containing wastes,overcoming some problems in electrolytes,electrodes,and electrolytic cells.Special focus is given to future development directions for current associated processing obstacles.展开更多
Heavy water-moderated molten salt reactors(HWMSRs)are novel molten salt reactors that adopt heavy water rather than graphite as the moderator while employing liquid fuel.Owing to the high moderating ratio of the heavy...Heavy water-moderated molten salt reactors(HWMSRs)are novel molten salt reactors that adopt heavy water rather than graphite as the moderator while employing liquid fuel.Owing to the high moderating ratio of the heavy water moderator and the utilization of liquid fuel,HWMSRs can achieve a high neutron economy.In this study,a large-scale small modular HWMSR with a thermal power of 500 MWth was proposed and studied.The criticality of the core was evaluated using an in-house critical search calculation code(CSCC),which was developed based on Standardized Computer Analyses for Licensing Evaluation,version 6.1.The preliminary fuel cycle performances(initial conversion ratio(CR),initialfissile fuel loading mass,and temperature coefficient)were investigated by varying the lattice pitch(P)and the molten salt volume fraction(VF).The results demonstrate that the temperature coefficient can be negative over the range of investigated Ps and VFs for both 233U-Th and LEU-Th fuels.A core with a P of 20 cm and a VF of 20%is recommended for 233U-Th and LEU-Th fuels to achieve a high performance of initial CR and fuel loading.Regarding TRU-Th fuel,a core with a smaller P(~5 cm)and larger VF(~24%)is recommended to obtain a negative temperature coefficient.展开更多
The molten salt leakage accident is an important issue in the nuclear safety analysis of molten salt reactors.While the molten salt leaks from the pipeline or storage tank,it will contact the insulation layer outside;...The molten salt leakage accident is an important issue in the nuclear safety analysis of molten salt reactors.While the molten salt leaks from the pipeline or storage tank,it will contact the insulation layer outside;hence,the processes of penetration and spreading play an important role in the development of leakage accidents.In this study,the penetration and diffusion of leaking molten salt(LMS)in an aluminum silicate fiber(ASF)thermal insulation layer were studied experimentally.A molten salt tank with an adjustable outlet was designed to simulate the leakage of molten salt,and the subsequent behavior in the thermal insulation layer was evaluated by measuring the penetra-tion time and penetration mass of the LMS.The results show that when the molten salt discharges from the outlet and reaches the thermal insulation layer,the LMS will penetrate and seep out from the ASF,and a higher flow rate of LMS requires less penetration time and leaked mass of LMS.As the temperature of the LMS and thickness of the ASF increased,the penetration time became longer and the leaked mass became greater at a lower LMS flow rate;when the LMS flow rate increased,the penetration time and leaked mass decreased rapidly and tended to flatten.展开更多
Carbon dioxide(CO2) capture using magnesium oxide(MgO)-based adsorbents at intermediate temperatures has been regarded as a very prospective technology for their relatively high adsorption capacity,low cost, and wide ...Carbon dioxide(CO2) capture using magnesium oxide(MgO)-based adsorbents at intermediate temperatures has been regarded as a very prospective technology for their relatively high adsorption capacity,low cost, and wide availability. During the past few years, great effort has been devoted to the fabrication of molten salts-modified MgO-based adsorbents. The extraordinary progress achieved by coating with molten salts greatly promotes the CO_2 capture capacity of MgO-based adsorbents. Therefore, we feel it necessary to deliver a timely review on this type of CO_2 capturing materials, which will benefit the researchers working in both academic and industrial areas. In this work, we classified the molten saltsmodified MgO adsorbents into four categories:(1) homogenous molten salt-modified MgO adsorbents,(2) molten salt-modified double salts-based MgO adsorbents,(3) mixed molten salts-modified MgO adsorbents, and(4) molten salts-modified MgO-based mixed oxides adsorbents. This contribution critically reviews the recent developments in the synthetic method, adsorption capacity, reaction kinetics, promotion mechanism, operational conditions and regenerability of the molten salts-modified MgO CO_2 adsorbents. The challenges and prospects in this promising field of molten salts-modified MgO CO_2 adsorbents in real applications are also briefly mentioned.展开更多
Carbon materials have taken an important role in supercapacitor applications due to their outstanding features of large surface area,low price,and stable physicochemical properties.Considerable research efforts have b...Carbon materials have taken an important role in supercapacitor applications due to their outstanding features of large surface area,low price,and stable physicochemical properties.Considerable research efforts have been devoted to the development of novel synthesis strategy for the preparation of porous carbon materials in recent years.In particular,molten salt strategy represents an emerging and promising method,whereby it has shown great potential in achieving tailored production of porous carbon.It has been proved that the molten salt-assisted production of carbon via the direct carbonization of carbonaceous precursors is an effective approach.Furthermore,with the incorporation of electrochemical technology,molten salt synthesis of porous carbon has become flexible and diversiform.Here,this review focuses on the mainstream molten salt synthesis strategies for the production of porous carbon materials,which includes direct molten salt carbonization process,capture and electrochemical conversion of CO_(2)to value-added carbon,electrochemical exfoliation of graphite to graphene-based materials,and electrochemical etching of carbides to new-type carbide-derived carbon materials.The reaction mechanisms and recent advances for these strategies are reviewed and discussed systematically.The morphological and structural properties and capacitive performances of the obtained carbon materials are summarized to reveal their appealing points for supercapacitor applications.Moreover,the opportunities and challenges of the molten salt synthesis strategy for the preparation of carbon materials are also discussed in this review to provide inspiration to the future researches.展开更多
Metal Sm has been widely used in making Al–Sm magnet alloy materials. Conventional distillation technology to produce Sm has the disadvantages of low productivity, high costs, and pollution generation. The objective ...Metal Sm has been widely used in making Al–Sm magnet alloy materials. Conventional distillation technology to produce Sm has the disadvantages of low productivity, high costs, and pollution generation. The objective of this study was to develop a molten salt electrolyte system to produce Al–Sm alloy directly, with focus on the electrical conductivity and optimal operating conditions to minimize the energy consumption. The continuously varying cell constant(CVCC) technique was used to measure the conductivity for the Na_3 AlF_6–AlF_3–LiF–MgF_2–Al_2O_3–Sm_2O_3 electrolysis medium in the temperature range from 905 to 1055°C. The temperature(t) and the addition of Al_2O_3(W(Al_2O_3)), Sm_2O_3(W(Sm_2O_3)), and a combination of Al_2O_3 and Sm_2O_3 into the basic fluoride system were examined with respect to their effects on the conductivity(κ) and activation energy. The experimental results showed that the molten electrolyte conductivity increases with increasing temperature(t) and decreases with the addition of Al_2O_3 or Sm_2O_3 or both. We concluded that the optimal operation conditions for Al–Sm intermediate alloy production in the Na_3 AlF_6–AlF_3–LiF–MgF_2–Al_2O_3–Sm_2O_3 system are W(Al_2O_3) + W(Sm_2O_3) = 3wt%, W(Al_2O_3):W(Sm_2O_3) = 7:3, and a temperature of 965 to 995°C, which results in satisfactory conductivity, low fluoride evaporation losses, and low energy consumption.展开更多
Molten salts play multiple important roles in the electrolysis of solid metal compounds,particularly oxides and sulfides,for the extraction of metals or alloys.Some of these roles are positive in assisting the extract...Molten salts play multiple important roles in the electrolysis of solid metal compounds,particularly oxides and sulfides,for the extraction of metals or alloys.Some of these roles are positive in assisting the extraction of metals,such as dissolving the oxide or sulfide anions,and transporting them to the anode for discharging,and offering the high temperature to lower the kinetic barrier to break the metal-oxygen or metal-sulfur bond.However,molten salts also have unfavorable effects,including electronic conductivity and significant capability of dissolving oxygen and carbon dioxide gases.In addition,although molten salts are relatively simple in terms of composition,physical properties,and decomposition reactions at inert electrodes,in comparison with aqueous electrolytes,the high temperatures of molten salts may promote unwanted electrode-electrolyte interactions.This article reviews briefly and selectively the research and development of the F ray-F arthing-Chen(FFC)Cambridge Process in the past two decades,focusing on observations,understanding,and solutions of various interactions between molten salts and cathodes at different reduction states,including perovskitization,non-wetting of molten salts on pure metals,carbon contamination of products,formation of oxychlorides and calcium intermetallic compounds,and oxygen transfer from the air to the cathode product mediated by oxide anions in the molten salt.展开更多
Implementation of non-precious electrocatalysts is key-enabling for water electrolysis to relieve challenges in energy and environmental sustainability. Self-supporting Ni-V2O3 electrodes consisting of nanostrip-like ...Implementation of non-precious electrocatalysts is key-enabling for water electrolysis to relieve challenges in energy and environmental sustainability. Self-supporting Ni-V2O3 electrodes consisting of nanostrip-like V2O3 perpendicularly anchored on Ni meshes are herein constructed via the electrochemical reduction of soluble NaVO3 in molten salts for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Such a special configuration in morphology and composition creates a well confined interface between Ni and V2O3. Experimental and Density-Functional-Theory results confirm that the synergy between Ni and V2O3 accelerates the dissociation of H2O for forming hydrogen intermediates and enhances the combination of H*for generating H2.展开更多
A liquid fueled thorium molten salt reactor(TMSR-LF),one of the Generation IV reactors,was designed by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences.This study uses the‘rt code to calculate th...A liquid fueled thorium molten salt reactor(TMSR-LF),one of the Generation IV reactors,was designed by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences.This study uses the‘rt code to calculate the neutron and gamma dose rate distributions around the reactor.Multiple types of tallies and variance reduction techniques were employed to reduce calculation time and obtain convergent calculation results.Based on the calculation and analysis results,the TMSR-LF1 radiation shield with a 60-cm serpentine concrete layer and a 120-cm ordinary concrete layer is able to meet radiation requirements.The gamma dose rate outside the reactor biological shield was 16.1 mSv h-1;this is higher than the neutron dose rate of 3.71×10^(–2)mSv h^(-1).The maximum thermal neutron flux density outside the reactor biological shield was 1.899103 cm^(-2)s^(-1),which was below the 19105 cm^(-2)s^(-1)limit.展开更多
Silicon has a large impact on the energy supply and economy in the modern world. In industry, high purity silicon is firstly prepared by carbothermic reduction of silica with the produced raw silicon being further ref...Silicon has a large impact on the energy supply and economy in the modern world. In industry, high purity silicon is firstly prepared by carbothermic reduction of silica with the produced raw silicon being further refined by a modified Siemens method. This process suffers from the disadvantages of high cost and contaminant release and emission. As an alternative, the molten salt electrolysis approach, particularly the FFC Cambridge Process(FFC: Fray-Farthing-Chen), could realize high purity silicon products with morphology-controllable nanostructures at low or mild temperatures(generally 650–900 ℃). In this article, we review the development, reaction mechanisms, and electrolysis conditions of silicon production by the FFC Cambridge Process. Applications of the silicon products from electrolysis in molten salts are also discussed in terms of energy applications, including using them as the photovoltaic element in solar cells and as the charge storage phase in the negative electrode(negatrode) of lithium ion batteries.展开更多
Spent catalyst used for denitration by selective catalytic reduction(spent SCR denitration catalysts) is one of the important urban mines due to the high content of TiO_(2)(~85 wt%) and the massive accumulation amount...Spent catalyst used for denitration by selective catalytic reduction(spent SCR denitration catalysts) is one of the important urban mines due to the high content of TiO_(2)(~85 wt%) and the massive accumulation amount(over 100,000 tons),therefore,value-added reutilization of titanium in spent SCR catalysts is considerably meaningful.In this paper,a novel method is proposed for converting the titanium oxide in spent SCR denitration catalysts to metallic titanium.Specifically,titanium dioxide(TiO_(2)) was firstly obtained from spent SCR denitration catalysts after removing the impurities by hydrometallurgy process.Then,TiO_(2) is converted to Ti_(2)CO by carbothermic reduction method,and Ti_(2)CO was further purified by oleic acid capture.Finally,by utilizing the as-prepared Ti_(2)CO as the consumable anode in the NaCl-KCl molten salt,high-purity metallic titanium was deposited at cathode,all confirming the feasibility for the conversion of low-grade TiO_(2) in the spent catalysts,from 60 wt% to high-purity metallic Ti(99.5 wt%), furthermore,the energy consumption of this process is 3950 kWh tonne-1 Ti,which is lower than that of most traditional titanium metallurgy methods.The method herein can provide new insights for the value-added recycling of titanium resources in urban mines.展开更多
In this study,a numerical flow model of the fission products(FPs)in the primary loop system of a molten salt reactor(MSR)was established and solved using Mathematica 7.0.The simulation results were compared with those...In this study,a numerical flow model of the fission products(FPs)in the primary loop system of a molten salt reactor(MSR)was established and solved using Mathematica 7.0.The simulation results were compared with those of the ORIGEN-S program in the static burnup mode,and the deviation was found to be less than 10%,which indicates that the results are in good agreement.Furthermore,the FPs distribution in the primary loop system under normal operating conditions of the 2 MW MSR was quantitatively analyzed.In addition,the distribution phenomenon of the FPs under different flow rate conditions was studied.At the end of life,the FPs activity in the core region(including active region,and upper and lower plenum regions)accounted for 77.3%,and that in the hot leg #1,main pump,hot leg #2,heat exchanger,and cold leg region accounted for 1.2%,16.15%,0.99%,2.5%,and 1.9%,respectively,of the total FPs in the primary loop under normal operating conditions.The proportion of FPs in the core decreased with the increase in flow rate in the range of 2.24-22,400 cm^3 s^-1.The established analytical method and conclusions of this study can provide an important basis for radiation safety design of the primary loop,radioactive source management design,thermal-hydraulic safety analysis,and radiochemical analysis of FPs of 2 MW MSRs.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52104309,52272021)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(2021CFB010)。
文摘High entropy oxides(HEOs)with ideal element tunability and enticing entropy-driven stability have exhibited unprecedented application potential in electrochemical lithium storage.However,the general control of dimension and morphology remains a major challenge.Here,scalable HEO morphology modulation is implemented through a salt-assisted strategy,which is achieved by regulating the solubility of reactants and the selective adsorption of salt ions on specific crystal planes.The electrochemical properties,lithiation mechanism,and structure evolution of composition-and morphology-dependent HEO anode are examined in detail.More importantly,the potential advantages of HEOs as electrode materials are evaluated from both theoretical and experimental aspects.Benefiting from the high oxygen vacancy concentration,narrow band gap,and structure durability induced by the multi-element synergy,HEO anode delivers desirable reversible capacity and reaction kinetics.In particular,Mg is evidenced to serve as a structural sustainer that significantly inhibits the volume expansion and retains the rock salt lattice.These new perspectives are expected to open a window of opportunity to compositionally/morphologi cally engineer high-performance HEO electrodes.
基金Funded by National MCF Energy R&D Program(No.2019YFE03130002)。
文摘Dense zirconium coatings on copper substrates were obtained in an alumina crucible and a stainless steel crucible from FLiNaK-K_(2)ZrF_(6)molten salt at 1023 K.Due to the potential difierences between copper and zirconium,zirconium can difiuse into the copper substrate to form zirconium alloys on the surface of copper substrates in the course of deposition.The coating deposited in a stainless steel crucible has a gray surface.The components of the coating are mainly CuZr2alloy and Cu_(10)Zr_(7)alloy,and,the outermost layer of the coating is a layer of amorphous pure zirconium.The coating deposited in an alumina crucible has a silvery white metallic luster.The components of the coating are mainly Cu-Zr-Al intermetallic compounds,AlCu_(2)Zr,ZrAl,AlCu and CuZr.Furthermore,two types of zirconium coatings can greatly increase the hardness of the substrate.
基金the Strategic Pilot Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA02010500).
文摘The high-temperature molten salt pump is the core equipment in a molten salt reactor that drives the flow of the molten salt coolant.Rotor stability is key to the continuous and reliable operation of the molten salt pump,and the liquid seal at the wear ring can affect the dynamic characteristics of the rotor system.When the molten salt pump is operated in the hightemperature molten salt medium,thermal deformation of the submerged parts inevitably occurs,changing clearance between the stator and rotor,affecting the leakage and dynamic characteristics of the seal.In this study,the seal leakage,seal dynamic characteristics,and rotor system dynamic characteristics are simulated and analyzed using finite element simulation software based on two cases of considering the effect of seal thermal deformation effect or not.The results show a significant difference in the leakage characteristics and dynamic characteristics of the seal obtained by considering the effect of seal thermal deformation and neglecting the effect of thermal deformation.The leakage flow rate decreases,and the first-order critical speed of the seal-bearing-rotor system decrease after considering the seal’s thermal deformation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52072252,No.51902215)Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2020ZDZX0005)+4 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(YJ201886)the Agence Nationale de la Recherche(Labex STORE-EX)for financial supportsupported by the Leading Innovative and Entrepreneur Team Introduction Program of Zhejiang(Grant No.2019R01003)Ningbo Top-talent Team Program,Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology(Grant No.2018A610005)President’s International Fellowship Initiative of CAS(No.2021DE0002).
文摘MXenes are two-dimensional transition metal carbides and/or nitrides with unique physiochemical properties and have attracted extensive interest in numerous fields.However,current MXene synthesis methods are limited by hazardous synthesis conditions,high production costs,or difficulty in largescale production.Therefore,a general,safe,cost-effective,and scalable synthesis method for MXenes is crucial.Here,we report the fast synthesis of MXenes in the open air using a molten salt-shielded synthesis(MS^(3))method,which uses Lewis-acid salts as etchants and a low-melting-point eutectic salt mixture as the reaction medium and shield to prevent MXene oxidation at high temperatures.Carbide and nitride MXenes,including Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x),Ti_(2)CT_(x),Ti_(3)CNT_(x),and Ti_(4)N_(3)T_(x),were successfully synthesized using the MS^(3) method.We also present the flexibility of the MS^(3) method by scaling the etching process to large batches of 20 and 60 g of Ti_(3)AlC_(2) MAX precursor in one pot.When used as negative electrodes,the prepared MS^(3)-MXenes delivered excellent electrochemical properties for high-rate Li-ion storage.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51804277)supported by the State Key Laboratory of Special Rare Metal Materials(No.SKL2020K004)Northwest Rare Metal Materials Research Institute.
文摘The properties of non-oxide materials are continuously revealed,and their applications in the fields of ceramics,energy,and catalysis are increasingly extensive.Regardless of the traditional binary materials or the MAX phases,the preparation methods,which are environmentally friendly,efficient,economical,and easy to scale-up,have always been the focus of attention.Molten salt synthesis has demonstrated unparalleled advantages in achieving non-oxide materials.In addition,with the development of the process in molten salt synthesis,it also shows great potential in scale-up production.In this review,the recent progress of molten salt synthesis in the preparation of binary non-oxide and MAX phase is reviewed,as well as some novel processes.The reaction mechanisms and the influence of synthetic conditions for certain materials are discussed in detail.The paper is finalized with the discussion of the application prospect and future research trends of molten salt synthesis in non-oxide materials.
文摘Low grade magnesite is one of the main research directions in the future as the raw material for the preparation of magnesia based insulating refractories.Periclase-forsterite(MgO-Mg_(2)SiO_(4)) lightweight insulating refractories were prepared by the molten salt method with high silica magnesite and tertiary talc ore as raw materials by pretreating them to get light burnt magnesia and talc,and NaCl molten salt as the reaction medium.The effects of the NaCl addition,the sintering temperature,the holding time and the raw material ratio on the sample preparation were studied.The results show that when the NaCl addition is 20% of the mass of light burnt magnesia and talc mixture,the sintering temperature is 1 200 ℃,the holding time is 6 h,and m(light burnt magnesia):m(talc)=5:5,the sample has the optimal comprehensive properties:the bulk density of 1.46 g·cm^(-3) and the apparent porosity of 55.0%.In addition,it is found that self-decomposition of talc and the formation of forsterite can form pores inside the sample.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Nos.2021YFC2901600 and 2021YFC2902305)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.52274356)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province,China (No.222300420545)the State Key Laboratory of Special Rare Metal Materials,China (No.SKL2020K004)the Northwest Rare Metal Materials Research Institute,China,and the State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization,China (No.CNMRCUKF2008)。
文摘The macroscopic characteristics of molten salts are governed by their microstructures.Research on the structures of molten salts provides the foundation for a full understanding of the physicochemical properties of molten salts as well as a deeper analysis of the microscopic electrolysis process in molten salts.Information about the microstructure of matter can be obtained with the help of several speculative and experimental procedures.In this review,the advantages and disadvantages of the various test procedures used to determine the microstructures of molten salts are compared.The typical coordination configurations of metal ions in molten salt systems are also summarized.Furthermore,the impact of temperature,anions,cations,and metal oxides(O2-)on the structures of molten salts is discussed in detail.The accuracy and completeness of the information on molten salt structures need to be investigated by the integration of multiple methods and interdisciplinary fields.Information on the microstructure and coordination of molten salts deepens the understanding of the elementary elements of the microstructure of matter.This paper,which is based on the review of the coordination states of metal ions in molten salts,is hoped to inspire researchers to explore the inter-relationship between the microstructure and macroscopic properties of materials.
基金supported by the National key research and development program of China(Nos.2016YFB0700401 and 2016YFB0700404)Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(Nos.19ZR1468200 and 18ZR1448000)+2 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51671154,51601213 and 51671122)Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA02004210)Youth Innovation Promotion Association,Chinese Academy of Science(No.2019264)
文摘From a safety point of view, it is important to study the damages and reliability of molten salt reactor structural alloy materials, which are subjected to extreme environments due to neutron irradiation, molten salt corrosion, fission product attacks, thermal stress, and even combinations of these. In the past few years, synchrotron radiation-based materials characterization techniques have proven to be effective in revealing the microstructural evolution and failure mechanisms of the alloys under surrogating operation conditions. Here, we review the recent progress in the investigations of molten salt corrosion,tellurium(Te) corrosion, and alloy design. The valence states and distribution of chromium(Cr) atoms, and the diffusion and local atomic structure of Te atoms near the surface of corroded alloys have been investigated using synchrotron radiation techniques, which considerably deepen the understandings on the molten salt and Te corrosion behaviors. Furthermore, the structure and size distribution of the second phases in the alloys have been obtained, which are helpful for the future development of new alloy materials.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51621003)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(No.2204073).
文摘Molten salt is an excellent medium for chemical reaction,energy transfer,and storage.Molten salt innovative technologies should be developed to recover metals from secondary resources and reserve metals from primary natural sources.Among these technologies,molten salt electrolysis is an economic and environment-friendly method to extract metals from waste materials.From the perspective of molten salt characteristics,the application of molten salts in chemistry,electrochemistry,energy,and thermal storage should be comprehensively elaborated.This review discusses further directions for the research and development of molten salt electrolysis and their use for metal recovery from various metal wastes,such as magnet scrap,nuclear waste,and cemented carbide scrap.Attention is placed on the development of various electrolysis methods for different metal containing wastes,overcoming some problems in electrolytes,electrodes,and electrolytic cells.Special focus is given to future development directions for current associated processing obstacles.
基金supported by the Chinese TMSR Strategic Pioneer Science and Technology Project(No.XDA02010000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11905285)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11790321)the Frontier Science Key Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.QYZDY-SSW-JSC016)。
文摘Heavy water-moderated molten salt reactors(HWMSRs)are novel molten salt reactors that adopt heavy water rather than graphite as the moderator while employing liquid fuel.Owing to the high moderating ratio of the heavy water moderator and the utilization of liquid fuel,HWMSRs can achieve a high neutron economy.In this study,a large-scale small modular HWMSR with a thermal power of 500 MWth was proposed and studied.The criticality of the core was evaluated using an in-house critical search calculation code(CSCC),which was developed based on Standardized Computer Analyses for Licensing Evaluation,version 6.1.The preliminary fuel cycle performances(initial conversion ratio(CR),initialfissile fuel loading mass,and temperature coefficient)were investigated by varying the lattice pitch(P)and the molten salt volume fraction(VF).The results demonstrate that the temperature coefficient can be negative over the range of investigated Ps and VFs for both 233U-Th and LEU-Th fuels.A core with a P of 20 cm and a VF of 20%is recommended for 233U-Th and LEU-Th fuels to achieve a high performance of initial CR and fuel loading.Regarding TRU-Th fuel,a core with a smaller P(~5 cm)and larger VF(~24%)is recommended to obtain a negative temperature coefficient.
基金supported by the“Strategic Priority Research Program”of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA0201002)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.2018301).
文摘The molten salt leakage accident is an important issue in the nuclear safety analysis of molten salt reactors.While the molten salt leaks from the pipeline or storage tank,it will contact the insulation layer outside;hence,the processes of penetration and spreading play an important role in the development of leakage accidents.In this study,the penetration and diffusion of leaking molten salt(LMS)in an aluminum silicate fiber(ASF)thermal insulation layer were studied experimentally.A molten salt tank with an adjustable outlet was designed to simulate the leakage of molten salt,and the subsequent behavior in the thermal insulation layer was evaluated by measuring the penetra-tion time and penetration mass of the LMS.The results show that when the molten salt discharges from the outlet and reaches the thermal insulation layer,the LMS will penetrate and seep out from the ASF,and a higher flow rate of LMS requires less penetration time and leaked mass of LMS.As the temperature of the LMS and thickness of the ASF increased,the penetration time became longer and the leaked mass became greater at a lower LMS flow rate;when the LMS flow rate increased,the penetration time and leaked mass decreased rapidly and tended to flatten.
基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2016ZCQ03)Beijing Excellent Young Scholar (2015000026833ZK11)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51622801, 51572029, and 51308045)the Xu Guangqi grant
文摘Carbon dioxide(CO2) capture using magnesium oxide(MgO)-based adsorbents at intermediate temperatures has been regarded as a very prospective technology for their relatively high adsorption capacity,low cost, and wide availability. During the past few years, great effort has been devoted to the fabrication of molten salts-modified MgO-based adsorbents. The extraordinary progress achieved by coating with molten salts greatly promotes the CO_2 capture capacity of MgO-based adsorbents. Therefore, we feel it necessary to deliver a timely review on this type of CO_2 capturing materials, which will benefit the researchers working in both academic and industrial areas. In this work, we classified the molten saltsmodified MgO adsorbents into four categories:(1) homogenous molten salt-modified MgO adsorbents,(2) molten salt-modified double salts-based MgO adsorbents,(3) mixed molten salts-modified MgO adsorbents, and(4) molten salts-modified MgO-based mixed oxides adsorbents. This contribution critically reviews the recent developments in the synthetic method, adsorption capacity, reaction kinetics, promotion mechanism, operational conditions and regenerability of the molten salts-modified MgO CO_2 adsorbents. The challenges and prospects in this promising field of molten salts-modified MgO CO_2 adsorbents in real applications are also briefly mentioned.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.5202205451974181+4 种基金5200415)the Shanghai Rising-Star Program(19QA1403600)the Iron and Steel Joint Research Found of National Natural Science Foundation and China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited(U1860203)the Program for Professor of Special Appointment(Eastern Scholar)at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning(TP2019041)the CAS Interdisciplinary Innovation Team for financial support。
文摘Carbon materials have taken an important role in supercapacitor applications due to their outstanding features of large surface area,low price,and stable physicochemical properties.Considerable research efforts have been devoted to the development of novel synthesis strategy for the preparation of porous carbon materials in recent years.In particular,molten salt strategy represents an emerging and promising method,whereby it has shown great potential in achieving tailored production of porous carbon.It has been proved that the molten salt-assisted production of carbon via the direct carbonization of carbonaceous precursors is an effective approach.Furthermore,with the incorporation of electrochemical technology,molten salt synthesis of porous carbon has become flexible and diversiform.Here,this review focuses on the mainstream molten salt synthesis strategies for the production of porous carbon materials,which includes direct molten salt carbonization process,capture and electrochemical conversion of CO_(2)to value-added carbon,electrochemical exfoliation of graphite to graphene-based materials,and electrochemical etching of carbides to new-type carbide-derived carbon materials.The reaction mechanisms and recent advances for these strategies are reviewed and discussed systematically.The morphological and structural properties and capacitive performances of the obtained carbon materials are summarized to reveal their appealing points for supercapacitor applications.Moreover,the opportunities and challenges of the molten salt synthesis strategy for the preparation of carbon materials are also discussed in this review to provide inspiration to the future researches.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51564015 and 51674126)the Graduate Student Innovation Special Fund of Jiangxi Province (YC2015-B064)+2 种基金the Science and Technology Research Project of Jiangxi Department of Education (GJJ150664)the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Project Fund of JXUST (YB2016007)the Scientific Research Fund of JXUST (NSFJ2014-G09)
文摘Metal Sm has been widely used in making Al–Sm magnet alloy materials. Conventional distillation technology to produce Sm has the disadvantages of low productivity, high costs, and pollution generation. The objective of this study was to develop a molten salt electrolyte system to produce Al–Sm alloy directly, with focus on the electrical conductivity and optimal operating conditions to minimize the energy consumption. The continuously varying cell constant(CVCC) technique was used to measure the conductivity for the Na_3 AlF_6–AlF_3–LiF–MgF_2–Al_2O_3–Sm_2O_3 electrolysis medium in the temperature range from 905 to 1055°C. The temperature(t) and the addition of Al_2O_3(W(Al_2O_3)), Sm_2O_3(W(Sm_2O_3)), and a combination of Al_2O_3 and Sm_2O_3 into the basic fluoride system were examined with respect to their effects on the conductivity(κ) and activation energy. The experimental results showed that the molten electrolyte conductivity increases with increasing temperature(t) and decreases with the addition of Al_2O_3 or Sm_2O_3 or both. We concluded that the optimal operation conditions for Al–Sm intermediate alloy production in the Na_3 AlF_6–AlF_3–LiF–MgF_2–Al_2O_3–Sm_2O_3 system are W(Al_2O_3) + W(Sm_2O_3) = 3wt%, W(Al_2O_3):W(Sm_2O_3) = 7:3, and a temperature of 965 to 995°C, which results in satisfactory conductivity, low fluoride evaporation losses, and low energy consumption.
文摘Molten salts play multiple important roles in the electrolysis of solid metal compounds,particularly oxides and sulfides,for the extraction of metals or alloys.Some of these roles are positive in assisting the extraction of metals,such as dissolving the oxide or sulfide anions,and transporting them to the anode for discharging,and offering the high temperature to lower the kinetic barrier to break the metal-oxygen or metal-sulfur bond.However,molten salts also have unfavorable effects,including electronic conductivity and significant capability of dissolving oxygen and carbon dioxide gases.In addition,although molten salts are relatively simple in terms of composition,physical properties,and decomposition reactions at inert electrodes,in comparison with aqueous electrolytes,the high temperatures of molten salts may promote unwanted electrode-electrolyte interactions.This article reviews briefly and selectively the research and development of the F ray-F arthing-Chen(FFC)Cambridge Process in the past two decades,focusing on observations,understanding,and solutions of various interactions between molten salts and cathodes at different reduction states,including perovskitization,non-wetting of molten salts on pure metals,carbon contamination of products,formation of oxychlorides and calcium intermetallic compounds,and oxygen transfer from the air to the cathode product mediated by oxide anions in the molten salt.
基金the funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51722404,51674177,51804221 and 91845113)the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFE0201703)+2 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2018M642906 and 2019T120684)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2042017kf0200)the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2019CFA065)。
文摘Implementation of non-precious electrocatalysts is key-enabling for water electrolysis to relieve challenges in energy and environmental sustainability. Self-supporting Ni-V2O3 electrodes consisting of nanostrip-like V2O3 perpendicularly anchored on Ni meshes are herein constructed via the electrochemical reduction of soluble NaVO3 in molten salts for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Such a special configuration in morphology and composition creates a well confined interface between Ni and V2O3. Experimental and Density-Functional-Theory results confirm that the synergy between Ni and V2O3 accelerates the dissociation of H2O for forming hydrogen intermediates and enhances the combination of H*for generating H2.
基金the Chinese Academy of Sciences TMSR Strategic Pioneer Science and Technology Project(No.XDA02010000).
文摘A liquid fueled thorium molten salt reactor(TMSR-LF),one of the Generation IV reactors,was designed by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences.This study uses the‘rt code to calculate the neutron and gamma dose rate distributions around the reactor.Multiple types of tallies and variance reduction techniques were employed to reduce calculation time and obtain convergent calculation results.Based on the calculation and analysis results,the TMSR-LF1 radiation shield with a 60-cm serpentine concrete layer and a 120-cm ordinary concrete layer is able to meet radiation requirements.The gamma dose rate outside the reactor biological shield was 16.1 mSv h-1;this is higher than the neutron dose rate of 3.71×10^(–2)mSv h^(-1).The maximum thermal neutron flux density outside the reactor biological shield was 1.899103 cm^(-2)s^(-1),which was below the 19105 cm^(-2)s^(-1)limit.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51602234)Ningbo Municipal Government (3315 Plan and 2014A35001-1)UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EP/J000582/1, GR/R68078)。
文摘Silicon has a large impact on the energy supply and economy in the modern world. In industry, high purity silicon is firstly prepared by carbothermic reduction of silica with the produced raw silicon being further refined by a modified Siemens method. This process suffers from the disadvantages of high cost and contaminant release and emission. As an alternative, the molten salt electrolysis approach, particularly the FFC Cambridge Process(FFC: Fray-Farthing-Chen), could realize high purity silicon products with morphology-controllable nanostructures at low or mild temperatures(generally 650–900 ℃). In this article, we review the development, reaction mechanisms, and electrolysis conditions of silicon production by the FFC Cambridge Process. Applications of the silicon products from electrolysis in molten salts are also discussed in terms of energy applications, including using them as the photovoltaic element in solar cells and as the charge storage phase in the negative electrode(negatrode) of lithium ion batteries.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51804277)supported by the State Key Laboratory of Special Rare Metal Materials(No.SKL2020K004)+1 种基金Northwest Rare Metal Materials Research Institutesupported by the State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization(No.CNMRCUKF2008)。
文摘Spent catalyst used for denitration by selective catalytic reduction(spent SCR denitration catalysts) is one of the important urban mines due to the high content of TiO_(2)(~85 wt%) and the massive accumulation amount(over 100,000 tons),therefore,value-added reutilization of titanium in spent SCR catalysts is considerably meaningful.In this paper,a novel method is proposed for converting the titanium oxide in spent SCR denitration catalysts to metallic titanium.Specifically,titanium dioxide(TiO_(2)) was firstly obtained from spent SCR denitration catalysts after removing the impurities by hydrometallurgy process.Then,TiO_(2) is converted to Ti_(2)CO by carbothermic reduction method,and Ti_(2)CO was further purified by oleic acid capture.Finally,by utilizing the as-prepared Ti_(2)CO as the consumable anode in the NaCl-KCl molten salt,high-purity metallic titanium was deposited at cathode,all confirming the feasibility for the conversion of low-grade TiO_(2) in the spent catalysts,from 60 wt% to high-purity metallic Ti(99.5 wt%), furthermore,the energy consumption of this process is 3950 kWh tonne-1 Ti,which is lower than that of most traditional titanium metallurgy methods.The method herein can provide new insights for the value-added recycling of titanium resources in urban mines.
基金supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences TMSR Strategic Pioneer Science and Technology Project(No.XDA02010000)The Frontier Science Key Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.QYZDY-SSW-JSC016)
文摘In this study,a numerical flow model of the fission products(FPs)in the primary loop system of a molten salt reactor(MSR)was established and solved using Mathematica 7.0.The simulation results were compared with those of the ORIGEN-S program in the static burnup mode,and the deviation was found to be less than 10%,which indicates that the results are in good agreement.Furthermore,the FPs distribution in the primary loop system under normal operating conditions of the 2 MW MSR was quantitatively analyzed.In addition,the distribution phenomenon of the FPs under different flow rate conditions was studied.At the end of life,the FPs activity in the core region(including active region,and upper and lower plenum regions)accounted for 77.3%,and that in the hot leg #1,main pump,hot leg #2,heat exchanger,and cold leg region accounted for 1.2%,16.15%,0.99%,2.5%,and 1.9%,respectively,of the total FPs in the primary loop under normal operating conditions.The proportion of FPs in the core decreased with the increase in flow rate in the range of 2.24-22,400 cm^3 s^-1.The established analytical method and conclusions of this study can provide an important basis for radiation safety design of the primary loop,radioactive source management design,thermal-hydraulic safety analysis,and radiochemical analysis of FPs of 2 MW MSRs.
