(Idaho National Laboratory Press Release, February 19, 2026)
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The National Reactor Innovation Center’s Molten Salt Thermophysical Examination Capability is set to begin operation in March, marking a pivotal step toward advancing reactor and fuel cycle technologies.
MSTEC, located at the Idaho National Laboratory, is a state-of-the-art, shielded argon glove box for irradiated and nonirradiated actinide materials, specifically high-temperature liquids such as fuel salts. This is one of NRIC’s multiple testing capabilities advancing nuclear energy in the United States.
NRIC officially unveiled the capability today during a small ceremony. It was attended by the MSTEC engineering and design team, along with leadership from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy and INL.
“The establishment of MSTEC marks a major achievement in our quest to advance next-generation nuclear reactor technologies,” said Brad Tomer, director of NRIC. “By offering the essential experimental infrastructure and expertise to industry, MSTEC will be pivotal in addressing our national energy objectives and propelling the future of nuclear power.”
Several molten salt reactor concepts are being developed both domestically and internationally. While there are multiple areas of active research, fuel salt performance and understanding the various fuel cycles will be necessary to raise the technical readiness level, de-risk molten salt reactors and support reactor deployment.
MSTEC provides specialized equipment to measure how materials behave under different conditions, and flexible laboratory spaces for small-scale experiments. The capability gives users the tools, facilities and expertise they need to gather reliable and consistent data for designing, testing, licensing and running molten salt reactors.
“MSTEC will significantly advance fuel salt technologies for the Department of Energy, industry and academia,” said INL’s senior molten salt researcher, Toni Karlsson. “It also offers a unique platform for training future actinide scientists and fuel cycle researchers.”
MSTEC is strategically located at INL, home to world-class facilities that are essential for advancing molten salt reactor technologies. These facilities include the Neutron Radiography Reactor and the Advanced Test Reactor, which provide unparalleled capabilities for irradiating salts, and the Analytical Research Laboratories, which enable precise isotopic and elemental analysis. This combination of specialized resources positions MSTEC as a critical hub for cutting-edge research and innovation in nuclear energy.
For more information on MSTEC, visit nric.inl.gov or email mstec@inl.gov.
About Idaho National Laboratory
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
