Preparation and Electrochemical Dissolution of a Soluble Uranium Oxycarbide Anode

A soluble uranium oxycarbide (UC_0.4O_0.6) anode was synthesized by a carbothermal reduction process, using U₃O₈, UO₂, and graphite as raw materials, in a vacuum environment of 0.1 MPa at 1750 °C. The sintered UC_0.4O_0.6 exhibited excellent conductivity and stability in LiCl-KCl molten salt. The dissolution process of UC_0.4O_0.6 in molten salt was analyzed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and the initial dissolution potential, rapid dissolution potential, and passivation potential were determined. The oxidation/reduction process of dissolved uranium ions in LiCl-KCl molten salt was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The experimental results showed that the addition of Li₂O significantly reduced the volatilization of U(VI) and increased the concentration of UO₂²⁺ in molten salt. Finally, the product was conducted by electrolysis at 1.0 V and was confirmed to be UO₂ by XRD and SEM-EDS analysis.