Application of In Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy to Study Dilute Chromium Ions in a Molten Chloride Salt
Keyword(s):
X Ray
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The local structure of dilute CrCl<sub>3</sub> in a molten MgCl<sub>2</sub>:KCl salt was investigated by <i>in situ</i> x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at temperatures from room temperature to 800<sup>o</sup>C. This constitutes the first experiment where dilute Cr speciation is explored in a molten chloride salt, ostensibly due to the compounding challenges arising from a low Cr concentration in a matrix of heavy absorbers at extreme temperatures. CrCl<sub>3</sub> was confirmed to be the stable species between 200 and 500<sup>o</sup>C, while mobility of metal ions at higher temperature (>700<sup>o</sup>C) prevented confirmation of the local structure.