text: The efficiency of a heat engine is ultimately dependent on the temperature difference between heat source and sink (Carnot cycle). To improve efficiency of power stations the operating temperature must be raised. Using water as the working fluid, this takes it into supercritical conditions. Efficiencies can be raised from about 39% for subcritical operation to about 45% using current technology. Supercritical water reactors (SCWRs) are promising advanced nuclear systems that offer similar thermal efficiency gains. Carbon dioxide can also be used in supercritical cycle nuclear power plants, with similar efficiency gains. Many coal-fired supercritical steam generators are operational all over the world, and have enhanced the efficiency of traditional steam-power  plants. Supercritical carbon dioxide is also proposed as a working fluid, which would have the advantage of lower critical pressure than water, but issues with corrosion are not yet fully solved. One proposed application is the Allam cycle. Both carbon dioxide and water are neutron moderators, but they have a lower density as supercritical fluids than liquid water does. This allows nuclear reactors with those supercritical fluids as a primary coolant to run in a reduced moderation mode ("semi-fast" or "epithermal") but not usually as a fast neutron reactor. On the other hand, some extra moderation would have to be provided for a fully thermal neutron spectrum.