About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Materials and Chemistry for Molten Salt Systems
|
| Presentation Title |
Multi Modal Characterization of Molten Salt Systems: Structural Insights From X-Ray and Neutron Diffraction and Molecular Dynamics Simulation |
| Author(s) |
David Sprouster, Boris Khaykovich, Sean Fayfar, Daniel Olds, Jörg Neuefeind, Ju Li, Stephen Lam |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
David Sprouster |
| Abstract Scope |
The use of molten salts in the next generation of fission and fusion nuclear reactors benefits from advanced characterization of the molecular structure of molten halide salts, paving the way to predictive capability of the chemical and thermophysical properties. In this work, we describe our recent efforts employing a combination of advanced simulation tools in concert with advanced characterization methods to probe the structure and temperature-dependent evolutions in several technologically relevant salts (NaCl-CrCl, FLiBe, FLiNaK). Examples will include coupling ab initio and neural-network molecular-dynamics simulations to data obtained from in situ neutron- and x-ray-diffraction experiments in pristine, and impurity-rich molten salt mixtures. With a deeper understanding of the salt structure, and role of impurities, the evolution of salt chemistry over the lifetime of a reactor can be better predicted, which is crucial to the licensing and operation of advanced fission and fusion reactors. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Characterization, High-Temperature Materials, Phase Transformations |