Dynamic Fluctuation of U³⁺ Coordination Structure in the Molten LiCl–KCl Eutectic via First Principles Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The dynamic fluctuation of the U³⁺ coordination structure in a molten LiCl–KCl mixture was studied using first principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) simulations. The radial distribution function, probability distribution of coordination numbers, fluctuation of coordination number and cage volume, self-diffusion coefficient and solvodynamic mean radius of U³⁺, dynamics of the nearest U–Cl distances, and van Hove function were evaluated. It was revealed that fast exchange of Cl^– occurred between the first and second coordination shells of U³⁺ accompanied with fast fluctuation of coordination number and rearrangement of coordination structure. It was concluded that 6-fold coordination structure dominated the coordination structure of U³⁺ in the molten LiCl–KCl–UCl₃ mixture and a high temperature was conducive to the formation of low coordinated structure