Gallium Behavior in a Low-Temperature Molten Salt System C_6H_(11)N_2 N(SO_2CF_3)_2

摘要

Currently, there are no industrial-scale processes capable of converting surplus weapons plutoniurn to usable MOX fuel. The current baseline processes (aqueous and pyroprocessing) suffer from several distinct disadvantages. Low-temperature alternatives based on newly developed room temperature ionic liquids may overcome many of these problems, while maintaining many of the advantages. Room temperature ionic liquid [C_6H_(11)N_2][N(SO_2CF_3)_2] or (EtMeIm-Tf_2N) was used as a solvent. It is thermally resistant up to 670 K, melts at 270 K, possesses hydrophobic properties, an enhanced conductivity for this group (～1.3 x 10~(-2) S/cm), and has a wide electrochemical window (～5.0 V). The chemical and electrochemical behavior of gallium was studied using the procedures of linear and cyclic voltammetry, IR spectroscopy, and measurement of the working electrode potential change after its short-term polarization.