Medium: UC simulations describe molten salt thermodynamics
Medium highlights UC's chemistry research
Medium highlighted research by chemists at the University of Cincinnati who are investigating the thermodynamic properties of molten salt, a material used in energy projects such as solar towers and some nuclear power plants.
UC College of Arts and Sciences research associate Yu Shi, a computational chemist, and his collaborators developed a new simulation method to calculate free energy using deep learning artificial intelligence.
Molten salt is salt heated to high temperatures where it becomes a liquid. It's a valuable medium for energy storage and heat transfer.
“Molten salts are stable at high temperatures and can hold a lot of energy in a liquid state,” Shi said. “They have good thermodynamic properties. That makes them a good energy storage material for concentrated solar power plants. And they can be used as a coolant in nuclear reactors.”
Shi's study of molten salt was published in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Chemical Science.
Featured image at top: University of Cincinnati chemist Yu Shi discovered a novel way to study the thermodynamic properties of molten salt. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
Yu Shi is a research associate and computational chemist in UC's College of Arts and Sciences. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
Related Stories
Pediatric visits can encourage parents to quit smoking
March 18, 2026
Medscape turns to UC human services Professor Ashley Merianos for expert opinion about using pediatric visits to encourage parents to quit smoking.
Recent advances may speed time to endometriosis diagnosis
March 16, 2026
The average time to clinical diagnosis of endometriosis is nine years. Definitive diagnosis of the disease is difficult, and until recently, has relied on laparoscopic surgery. Now, as Medscape recently reported, novel clinical recommendations, advanced diagnostic tools and research into inflammation and immune responses, are bringing promise that women with endometriosis will find relief sooner and without surgery, according to experts, including Katie Burns, PhD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine associate professor.
Position-specific helmets may not improve protection
March 16, 2026
Local 12 highlighted a new study by biomedical engineering researchers that looked at how well new football helmets protected players from impacts that can cause concussions.