About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Materials and Chemistry for Molten Salt Systems
|
| Presentation Title |
Effect of Redox Couple on Potential Stability in Metallic Reference Electrodes for Molten Fluoride Salts |
| Author(s) |
Padma Krishnakumar, Michael Clegg, Jim Steppan, Tom Meaders, Byron Millet, Michael Simpson |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Padma Krishnakumar |
| Abstract Scope |
A critical need in building stable reference electrodes (RE) for molten fluoride applications is to find compatible redox couples in the reference chambers of the electrode that can achieve excellent long-term stability. This project used the HiFunda high-temperature reference electrode (HTRE) to test the effect of different redox couples on reference potential stability. It featured a metallic housing due to instability of ceramic materials in fluoride salts. Thus, it couples the inner reference salt potential with that of the bulk analyzed salt. Using carefully selected redox couples like Fe/Fe(III) and Zr/Zr(IV), the HTRE can be used as a thermodynamic RE. Testing was conducted for up to 7-day periods in UF4-spiked FLiNaZr using analysis methods like open-circuit potentiometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear polarization resistance, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). ICP-MS analysis measured corrosion products in bulk salt and reference salt samples. CV-derived onset potentials were key for evaluating potential stability. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
High-Temperature Materials, Nuclear Materials, Other |