A variety of molten salts are proposed as liquid fuels or coolants in a new fleet of molten salt nuclear reactors that would have operational and safety advantages over present reactor systems. The molten salt will be exposed to high radiation levels under these conditions, therefore understanding the chemical effects of radiolysis on the molten salt fuel or coolant is essential to reliable, efficient and sustainable reactor operation. This understanding begins with identifying the primary salt radiolysis products and characterizing their reactivities, in pure salt and also under conditions that represent loading with fuel (actinides), fission products and corrosion products. These reactions form subsequent products that determine the chemical evolution of the molten salt fuel over the duration of its lifetime in the reactor. To obtain predictive insight into this radiation-driven chemical evolution, these reactions are investigated by performing pulse radiolysis transient absorption spectroscopy at the BNL Laser-Electron Accelerator Facility using a high-temperature sample configuration. Examples will be given showing how the composition of the molten salt determines the identities and reactivities of the primary radiolysis products, as well as the kinetics of their reactions with metal ions that are representative of the reactor fuel environment.

Radiation-driven chemistry in molten salts

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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