Advanced Modular Reactors based on molten salts (Molten Salt Reactors, MSR) are promising candidates for the production of sure, decarbonated, sustainable energy.

However, the halide molten salts have a complex chemistry and can be very aggressive against structural materials in the expected operating conditions.

In the ISAC project (Innovative System for Actinide Conversion, CEA and academics), the IRESNE research institute of CEA Cadarache will develop small analytical loops to study the corrosion, chemistry and instrumentation in the chloride systems in representative conditions. The corrosion of the materials of the loop as well as the chemistry in normal (noble metal precipitation, gas volatilisation…) or incidental (precipitation due to air ingress) conditions.

Our laboratory is involved in the definition of these loops, as well as in their instrumentation and the post test analyses (materials, salt chemistry).

The post-doctorant will have first in charge the preparation of the loop operation: instrumentation (potentiometric oxygen sensor) and salt preparation (purification). She/he will then be in charge of the materials (corrosion) and chemistry of the test, which will begin in 2023. The results will be used as input data for the codes, which will be developed to simulate the salt behaviour in reactor. The post-doctorant will be in interaction with numerous CEA or academic partners for the definition of the loops, their operation, to compare and discuss the results and to integrate them in models.

The candidate should have a thesis in materials science, electrochemistry or chemistry with high experimental skill. An experience in the molten salt chemistry would be appreciated.