Clean production and utilisation of hydrogen in molten salts

Abstract

Green and low-cost electro-generation of hydrogen in molten salts provides unique opportunities for the sustainable production of a range of advanced materials from high quality graphene to metal/alloy powders.

On the Reactive Molten Salt Synthesis, Solubility and Na-Ion Storage Performance of Na2Mo2O7

“…10 Other examples include the facile molten salt synthesis of Li 2 TiO 3 , 11 Li 2 Fe 3 O 5 12 and others. 13 One advantage of the reactive molten salt (RMS) methods described above is that the final product can be easily removed from the solidified salt by a simple washing and filtration process, due to the high solubility of salts such as LiCl, which is known to be great at about 20 mol per liter of water at room temperature. 14 However, unlike compounds such as Li 2 TiO 3 11 and Li 2 Fe 3 O 5 , 12 our result presented in this article shows that Na 2 Mo 2 O 7 has a considerable solubility in water at room temperature and neutral pH level, limiting the application of RMS method for the preparation of sodium molybdate.…”

Nucleation and growth mechanism of dendrite-free Ni–Cu catalysts by magneto-electrodeposition for the hydrogen evolution reaction

“…With the growing demand for clean energy sources, hydrogen has been considered a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its zero-carbon emissions and highest gravimetric energy density. 1 Different methods have been used for hydrogen production, 2,3 and electrocatalytic water splitting is acknowledged as one of the most attractive approaches to green energy as it provides a convenient route to high-purity hydrogen without pollution. 4 However, to satisfy the current energy and economic demand, developing high-efficiency and costeffective electrocatalysts for the HER from non-precious metals is urgent.…”

Experimental and Computational Exploration of the NaF–ThF4 Fuel System: Structure and Thermochemistry

“…8 Yet in a 21st century facing growing energy demand in combination with the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, one of the most promising uses of molten salts would be as fuels and coolants for a class of advanced nuclear power systems called molten salt reactors (MSRs). 9 The current reference fuel mixtures for the European molten salt fast reactor concept, LiF−ThF 4 − 233 UF 4 (77.5− 20−2.5 mol %) and LiF−ThF 4 − enr UF 4 −(Pu,MA)F 3 (77.5− 6.6−12.3−3.6 mol %, MA = minor actinides), 10 use 7 LiF as the carrier salt. Interestingly, it was shown in a previous thermodynamic assessment that the addition of NaF to the LiF−ThF 4 −UF 4 fuel matrix could lower the melting point of the mixture, 11 thereby limiting solidification risks and allowing for possible improvement of the overall thermodynamic efficiency of the reactor.…”

“…Interestingly, it was shown in a previous thermodynamic assessment that the addition of NaF to the LiF−ThF 4 −UF 4 fuel matrix could lower the melting point of the mixture, 11 thereby limiting solidification risks and allowing for possible improvement of the overall thermodynamic efficiency of the reactor. Next to this, NaF is a significantly cheaper alternative compared to 7 LiF, which could be particularly appealing in a MSR concept operated in the fast neutron spectrum. Accordingly, the NaF−ThF 4 fuel system has been investigated herein with experimental and computational methods to substantiate the knowledge on its materials' properties and the structural behavior of the melt over wide ranges of temperature and composition.…”

“…In recent times, the applications investigated include recovery of valuable metals from spent batteries, carburization of steel, carbon capture and storage, and the production of hydrogen and ammonia . Yet in a 21st century facing growing energy demand in combination with the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, one of the most promising uses of molten salts would be as fuels and coolants for a class of advanced nuclear power systems called molten salt reactors (MSRs) .…”