Robust, Standardized High-Temperature Molten Chloride Salt Reference Electrodes

Thermodynamic, high-temperature reference electrodes (HTRE) with lifetimes of up to 6 months are necessary for monitoring the redox potential of nuclear- relevant, molten salts at elevated temperatures for corrosion control. Unfortunately, robust thermodynamic HTRE for this challenging application are not commercially available which inhibits the development and deployment of next-generation, molten-salt-cooled, high-temperature nuclear reactors. The HiFunda/UofU team is proposing to leverage HiFunda’s electrochemical sensor and materials development and UofU’s high-temperature molten salt electrochemical experiences to develop and demonstrate new robust HTRE designs that meet the thermal, chemical, mechanical, electrical, manufacturability, cost, and reliability requirements for this demanding high-temperature molten salt application. The HiFunda/UofU team will design, develop, and demonstrate a HTRE that utilizes a near-net shape ion transport membrane (ITM) membrane or a controlled porosity membrane with seals engineered for this application. The HTRE and seal designs will be robust, chemically compatible, able to withstand thermal cycling, cost effective, and manufacturable (designed for manufacturing and assembly, DFMA). The voltage stability performance of the HTRE will be demonstrated in molten salts at elevated temperatures. The proposed approach will help to enable next-generation nuclear power generation which will have a significant positive effect on power generation and CO2 emissions in the US and worldwide. Reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and increasing the supply of energy produced from nuclear fuels will have an enormous impact on US energy security and US energy demand with abundant emission-free electricity. In addition, the HTRE developed for this application can be used to corrosion monitoring and control in other molten salt systems such as concentrated solar power (CSP).