1
|
A Molten Salt Electrochemical Process for the Preparation of Cost-Effective p-Block (Coating) Materials. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12030385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Solar energy applications rely heavily on p-block elements and transition metals. Silicon is, by far, the most commonly used material in photovoltaic cells and accounts for about 85% of modules sold presently. Of late, thin film photovoltaic cells have gained momentum because of their higher efficiencies. Most of these thin film devices are made out of just five elements, namely, cadmium, tellurium, selenium, indium, gallium and copper. The present manuscript describes an elegant and inexpensive molten salt-based electrolytic process for fabricating a tellurium-coated metallic substrate. A three-electrode set up was employed to coat iridium with tellurium from a molten bath containing lithium chloride, lithium oxide and tellurium tetrachloride (LiCl-Li2O-TeCl4) at 650 °C for a duration ranging from 30 to 120 min under a galvanostatic mode. The tellurium coating was observed to be thick, uniform, smooth and homogeneous. Additionally, the deposited tellurium did not chemically react with the iridium substrate to form intermetallic compounds, which is a good feature from the standpoint of the device’s performance characteristics. The present process, being generic in nature, shows the potential for the manufacture of both the coated substates and high-purity elements not just for tellurium but also for other p-block elements.
Collapse
|
2
|
Fredrickson GL, Patterson MN, Vaden D, Galbreth GG, Yoo TS, Price J, Flynn EJ, Searle RN. History and status of spent fuel treatment at the INL Fuel Conditioning Facility. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2021.104037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
3
|
Herrmann SD, Westphal BR, Li SX, Zhao H. Parametric Study of Used Nuclear Oxide Fuel Constituent Dissolution in Molten LiCl-KCl-UCl3. NUCL TECHNOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00295450.2021.1973180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven D. Herrmann
- Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415-6180
- University of Idaho, Idaho Falls, Idaho
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mullabaev A, Kovrov V, Kholkina A, Zaikov Y. Anode processes on Pt and ceramic anodes in chloride and oxide-chloride melts. NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2021.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
5
|
Horvath D, Dale O, Simpson M. Electrochemical response of various metals to oxygen gas bubbling in molten LiCl–Li2O melt. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06925-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
6
|
Cao G, Herrmann S, Li S, Hoover R, King J, Serrano-Rodriguez B, Marsden K. Development of a Li2O Sensor Based on a Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Membrane for Oxide Reduction in a Molten LiCl-Li2O Electrolyte at 650°C. NUCL TECHNOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/00295450.2019.1666601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G. Cao
- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415
| | - S. Herrmann
- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415
| | - S. Li
- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415
| | - R. Hoover
- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415
| | - J. King
- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415
| | | | - K. Marsden
- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415
| |
Collapse
|