New insights and coupled modelling of the structural and thermodynamic properties of the LiF-UF4 system

© 2021 The Authors LiF-UF4 is a key binary system for molten fluoride reactor technology, which has not been scrutinized as thoroughly as the closely related LiF-ThF4 system. The phase diagram equilibria in the system LiF-UF4 are explored in this work with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The short-range...

Examination of the short-range structure of molten salts: ThF₄, UF₄, and related alkali actinide fluoride systems

The short-range structures of LiF-ThF4, NaF-AnF4, KF-AnF4, and Cs-AnF4 (An = Th, U), were probed using in situ high temperature Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. Signally, the EXAFS spectra of pure molten ThF4 and UF4 were measured for the first time. The data were interpreted with the aid of Molecular Dynamics ...

Experimental and Computational Exploration of the NaF-ThF₄Fuel System: Structure and Thermochemistry

The structural, thermochemical, and thermophysical properties of the NaF-ThF4 fuel system were studied with experimental methods and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Equilibrium MD (EMD) simulations using the polarizable ion model were performed to calculate the density, molar volume, thermal expansion, mixing enthalpy, heat capacity, and...

A new approach for coupled modelling of the structural and thermo-physical properties of molten salts. Case of a polymeric liquid LiF-BeF₂

The (Li,Be)F_x fluoride salt is an ionic liquid with complex non-ideal thermodynamic behaviour due to the formation of short-range order. In this work, we explore the relationship between local structure, thermo-physical and thermodynamic properties in this system using a multidisciplinary approach that couples molecular dynamics...