In Situ High Temperature Raman and DFT Analysis of LiF-PrF3-Pr6O11 Molten Salt System
摘要
Understanding the structural intricacies of LiF-PrF3-Pr6O11 molten salts is of paramount importance for advancing praseodymium electrolysis technology. In this study, the ion structure of the LiF-PrF3-Pr6O11 molten salt system was analyzed by combining in situ high temperature Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) within the temperature range of 1203~1323K. Additionally, the ions present in the melt were quantitatively analyzed using Raman scattering cross section (RSCS). The results indicate the presence of PrF63- (Oh), Pr2F82- (C1), Pr2F93- (S4), and Pr2F104- (D2h) praseodymium fluoride anions in the LiF (15 wt pct)-PrF3 (85 wt pct) melt. The predominant ions in the melt transform from Pr2F82− and Pr2F104- to PrF63- and Pr2F93− with increasing temperature. The PrOF32− (C1), PrOF54- (C4v), Pr2OF62- (C2v), and Pr2OF84− (C2) praseodymium oxyfluoride anions were formed after 2wt pct Pr6O11 was added to the LiF-PrF3 molten salt. The stability of praseodymium fluoride ions decreases as the temperature rises, resulting in the conversion of these ions in the molten state into Pr2OF62- and Pr2OF84- anions.