Electrodeposition of Li and electrochemical formation of Mg-Li alloys from the eutectic LiCl-KCl

The electrochemical behavior of Li+ was studied at the inert and active electrodes in the molten LiCl-KCl eutectic. Transient electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and chronopotentiometry were used in order to explore the deposition mechanism of Li. The reduction process of Li+ is irreversible and the diffusion coefficient of Li+ at 723 K was determined as 6.68(+/- 0.07) x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1). During the electrodeposition process of Li, the electrocrystallization played an important role. The chronoamperometric studies indicated that instantaneous nucleation existed during the electrodeposition process of Li metal. At a Mg electrode. the electroreduction of Li+ takes place at a less cathodic potential value,, than that at Mo electrode which indicated the formation of Mg-Li alloy. The Mg-Li alloy films with different crystal phase were obtained by potentiostatic electrolysis, and the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. (C) 2007 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.