At 500 deg C, a D2 molecule with a D-D bond strength of 444 KJ/mole (4.6 eV/bond) reacts with liquid Lithium
which has a Li-Li bond strength of 107 KJ/mole (1.11 eV/bond) to form the two Li-D bonds
each with a bond strength of 240 KJ/mole.(2.5 eV/bond)
About even up when the energy of getting the Li & D2 up to temperature is considered.
OTOH, if electrolysis of molten LiD yields Deuterium at the anode with a cell
potential a fraction of that required for electrolysis of D2O with a current many
times that of the D2O ....but how much energy was invested to get the
Lithium Metal and D2 gas in the first place?
IOW, a 15 times input "OU" multiplier might achieve energy breakeven.
Fred
