SALT || Reactor Safety & InorgAnic Chemistry of Light Elements at High Temperature

We apply our research to fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactors (FHRs) and Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs), high-temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGRs), and tritium-breeding blankets for fusion systems.  Our research includes safety analysis, licensing and design of nuclear reactors, and extends to engineering ethics.

Open positions and involvement with the group

1. Undergraduate student research: Interest Form. Please apply and reach out by September 6th , 2024.
   • We are currently looking for 2 undergraduate students to work on electrochemistry research. Please fill out above application and reach out to Michael Borrello (michael.borrello@berkeley.edu)
   • We are currently looking for a nuclear engineering undergraduate student to have an experimental research role in helping set up a molten salt loop. Please fill out above application and reach out to Nicole Johnson (nicole_johnson@berkeley.edu)
   • We are currently looking for an undergraduate student for a controls role. Please fill out above application and reach out to Nicole Johnson (nicole_johnson@berkeley.edu)
   • We are currently looking for an undergraduate student to have an experimental research role in helping set up a molten salt loop. Please fill out above application and reach out to Nathanael Gardner (nathanael_gardner@berkeley.edu)
2. Graduate students: the UC Berkeley Nuclear Engineering Ph.D. Program Application is due mid- December.
3. Postdoctoral positions open in the following areas: salt chemistry | materials | graphite | corrosion | electrochemistry. Please email Prof. Scarlat: scarlat@berkeley.edu
4. Lab tours and general inquiries about the work in the SALT group: Please email Nicole Johnson | nicole_johnson@berkeley.edu
5. Meeting sign-up link for Prof. Scarlat

Research

A. We are part of the following multi-institute research consortia:

1. ​Bridging the gap between experiments and modeling to improve design of molten salt reactors NEUP IRP. Funding agency: NEUP. 2022-2025.
2. Reduction, Mitigation, and Disposal Strategies for the Graphite Waste of High Temperature Reactors​ NEUP IRP. Funding agency: NEUP. 2022-2025.
3. UPWARDS: Universal Performance Criteria and Canister for Advanced Reactor Waste Form Acceptance in Borehole and Mined Repositories Considering Design Safety Funded by: DOE ArpaE. 2022-2025.
4. NSSC: Nuclear Science and Security Consortium. Funded by: NNSA. 2021-2026.
5. MINES: The Science of Direct MINeral to Energy Storage Synthesis. Funded by: DOE BES Critical Minerals and Materials. 2022-2026.
6. FUTURE: The Fundamental Understanding of Transport Under Reactor Extremes. Funded by: DOE BES Materials Science and Engineering. 2022-2026.
7. Molten Salt Loop for the MIT Reactor NEUP IRP. Funded by: NEUP. 2020-2023.
8. Artificial Intelligence Institute for Advances in Optimization (AI4OPT). Funded by: NSF. 2021-2026.

B. Other projects that are not part of large research consortia:

1. High Temperature Molten Salt Studies. Funded by: France-Berkeley Fund. 2021-2022. Collaborators: Sylvie Delpech (Université Paris, Orsay). Topics: molten salt electrochemistry, reference electrode development.
2. Probing Speciation of Light Elements in Molten Salts by Electrochemistry, High Temperature Liquid NMR, and Neutron Diffraction. Funded by: DOE NEUP. 2021-2024. Collaborators: B. Kaykovich (MIT), S. Vogel (LANL), M. Asta (UCB), I. Farnan (University of Cambridge).
3. High Temperature Molten Salt Reactor Pump Component Development and Testing. Funded by: DOE NEUP. 2021-2024. Collaborators: M. Anderson (UW, lead PI), N. Zweibaum (Kairos Power), J. Hensel (Powdermet), K. Robb (ORNL). Topics: tribology in molten salt, sensors for pump health monitoring.
4. ThorCon Loop Corrosion Studies. Funded by: Thorcon Power. Topics: salt properties, corrosion performance of SS316H in a molten salt loop.
5. Thermodynamics Textbook: Creating Culturally and Historically Diverse Examples. Funded by: UC Berkeley College of Engineering Advancing Faculty Diversity in Berkeley Engineering.
6. Graphite and Tritium Studies in Molten Fluoride Salts
7. Molten Salt Round Robin 1.0

Radio, Television, and Online Videos

1. Molten-Salt and Salt-Cooled Nuclear Reactors: The Opportunities and Challenges Faced in Providing a Global Solution to Clean Energy. Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) Stanford University. October 31, 2019.
2. Nuclear Technology: Opportunities and Hurdles in Research and Development. Wisconsin Public Radio, NRP. The Larry Meiller Show. October 8, 2018.
3. Designing the Next Generation of Nuclear Reactors. June 6, 2018. Wisconsin Public Television, PBS. University Place. 
4. Thermochemistry of Molten Salt Solutions. Thorium Energy Alliance Conference. August 21, 2017