Facile Synthesis of U2Ti Intermetallic by Direct Electrochemical Reduction of UO2-TiO2 Composite in LiCl-Li2O Melt

Alloys of U with Ti are of importance in nuclear industry as fuel for Gen IV fast reactors, hydrogen isotope storage medium for fusion reactors, super conductors, and also as corrosion resistant material for use in various applications. Here, preparation of U2Ti intermetallic compound was investigated by the direct electrochemical reduction of mixed oxide of UO2-TiO2 in LiCl-0.5% Li2O molten salt at 650oC. The mixed oxide pellet of UO2-TiO2 sintered at 1500oC was found to be a mixture of UTi2O6 and UO2 as evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Direct electro-lithiothermic reduction of UO2, TiO2, and a mixture of sintered UO2-TiO2 and UTi2O6 coupled with cyclic voltammetry of these oxides in the melt was performed to understand the electro-reduction mechanism. Potentials of reduction of these oxides in the melt, w.r.t Ni/NiO reference electrode, obtained by analysis of CV data of these oxides contained in metallic cavity electrodes and XRD analysis of partially electro-reduced oxides were used to arrive at the electro-reduction mechanism. Results indicate that U2Ti can be prepared conveniently by the electro-lithiothermic reduction of sintered pellet of UO2-TiO2 cathode by constant current electrolysis in a two-electrode cell.