A system for nuclear power generation can include an accelerator-driven subcritical nuclear reactor that operates using molten-salt fuel. The reactor includes a target positioned to receive a proton beam and to be cooled by the molten-salt fuel. A voltage signal is applied to an electrode in contact with the molten-salt fuel in the reactor for controlling corrosion of the target and other portions of the reactor. In one embodiment, the target is used as the electrode. In another embodiment, an electrode other than the target is used.

A hybrid nuclear reactor that is operable to produce a medical isotope includes an ion source operable to produce an ion beam from a gas, a target chamber including a target that interacts with the ion beam to produce neutrons, and an activation cell positioned proximate the target chamber and including a parent material that interacts with the neutrons to produce the medical isotope via a fission reaction. An attenuator is positioned proximate the activation cell and selected to maintain the fission reaction at a subcritical level, a reflector is positioned proximate the target chamber and selected to reflect neutrons toward the activation cell, and a moderator substantially surrounds the activation cell, the attenuator, and the reflector.