About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Materials and Chemistry for Molten Salt Systems
|
| Presentation Title |
Design and Validation of a Heated, Inert Atmosphere Sample Cell for Laboratory-Based Molten Salt X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy |
| Author(s) |
Adam Georgeson, Jeremy T. Moon |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Adam Georgeson |
| Abstract Scope |
X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful tool for probing the local structure and oxidation state of elements in molten salts but has been limited by its reliance on synchrotron access. We report the design, fabrication, and validation of a heated, inert atmosphere sample environment enabling molten salt XAS using a laboratory-based XAS system. The system couples a sealed boron-nitride transmission cell to a compact resistively heated furnace inside an argon-purged enclosure, maintaining an inert atmosphere while reaching 1000 °C. Lab-based X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of uranium and lanthanide salts in LiCl-KCl were collected and benchmarked against synchrotron data. This system provides new capability for in situ studies of molten salt chemistry, enabling rapid iteration and screening of salt compositions relevant to nuclear fuel cycles, pyroprocessing, and high-temperature electrochemical systems. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Pyrometallurgy, Other |