Molten salt reactors: Climate goals revive interest in previously discounted nuclear technology.

The article focuses on molten salt reactors (MSRs) as a promising alternative nuclear technology for low-carbon energy production. MSRs use molten salts as coolant and fluid fuel, offering advantages such as lower operating pressure, higher thermodynamic efficiency (45–50%), enhanced passive safety features, and the ability to utilize abundant thorium fuel. Despite early development success at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, MSR programs were largely discontinued during the Cold War in favor of breeder reactors aligned with nuclear weapons production. Renewed interest is now driving research and commercial projects, including China’s planned thorium MSR and U.S. initiatives like Kairos, though challenges remain in establishing safety standards and supply chains. Advanced ceramic materials, such as silicon carbide, are critical for addressing corrosion and radiation tolerance in MSR components. [Extracted from the article]