机器学习辅助的LiCl-KCl-PuCl3熔盐体系分子动力学模拟

Machine Learning-assisted Molecular Dynamics Simulation of LiCl-KCl-PuCl3 Molten Salt System

  • 摘要: 在乏燃料熔盐电解精炼过程中,钚(Pu)是需要提取分离的关键元素之一,深入探究Pu3+离子在熔盐中的配位化学特征及其对熔盐体系宏观性质的影响,对锕系元素分离技术的优化与新型熔盐体系的设计具有重要意义。本文以PuCl3摩尔分数为3.0%的LiCl-KCl-PuCl3熔盐体系为研究对象,基于高精度第一性原理分子动力学数据,通过深度学习训练开发了该体系的机器学习势函数。利用所开发的机器学习势函数开展了第一性原理精度的分子动力学模拟,结果显示,当温度从773 K升高到1 073 K时,Pu-Cl键长和Cl-Pu-Cl键角几乎无变化,表明Pu络合物的几何结构受温度影响很小;Pu3+离子在LiCl-KCl-PuCl3熔盐中主要以七配位络合物的形式存在,温度升高会驱动其向六配位结构转变。此外,温度升高会显著降低体系黏度,同时大幅提高Pu3+离子的扩散系数。本工作有助于揭示LiCl-KCl-PuCl3体系的微观配位结构和宏观性质的演变规律,可为未来锕系元素的提取分离以及新型熔盐体系的设计提供理论依据。

     

    Abstract: In the molten salt electrorefining process of spent nuclear fuel, plutonium (Pu) is one of the key elements requiring extraction and separation. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct in-depth studies on the coordination chemistry of Pu3+ ions in molten salts and their potential impacts on macroscopic properties of molten salts. Based on high-precision ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation data, a machine learning-based deep potential (DP) model was developed via deep learning training for the LiCl-KCl-PuCl3 system. Subsequently, large-scale deep potential molecular dynamics (DPMD) simulations were performed based on the trained DP model to investigate the LiCl-KCl-PuCl3 system under high-temperature conditions. The predicted density of the LiCl-KCl-PuCl3 system decreases gradually as the temperature increases from 773 K to 1 073 K. The results of the radial distribution function (RDF) reveal the presence of locally ordered coordination structures within the mixed molten salt. From the first peaks of the RDF curves, the predicted Pu-Cl bond length ranges from 2.66 to 2.68 Å over the studied temperature range, and the Cl-Pu-Cl bond angle is predominantly centered at approximately 49°, indicating that temperature exerts a negligible effect on the geometric structure of Pu complexes. With increasing temperature, the chloride coordination numbers of Pu3+ ions decrease gradually ranging from an average of 6.62 to 6.11, with the co-existence of PuCl52−, PuCl63−, PuCl74−, PuCl85−. At 773 K, Pu3+ ions primarily form seven-coordinate complexes in the LiCl-KCl system, and elevated temperatures gradually drive the structural transformation of Pu3+ complexes from seven-coordinate to six-coordinate configurations. In addition, increasing temperature leads to a significant reduction in molten salt viscosity while correspondingly increases the diffusion coefficient of Pu3+ ions. The calculated activation energy of Pu3+ ions is 32.4 kJ/mol, which is in excellent agreement with the reported experimental value of 32.1 kJ/mol. This work elucidates the microscopic coordination structures and property evolution mechanisms of the LiCl-KCl-PuCl3 system, providing a solid theoretical foundation for the future extraction and separation of actinide elements as well as the rational design of advanced molten salt systems.

     

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