Electrochemical behavior of nitride ions in a molten chloride system

The electrochemical behavior of nitride ions in an LiCl-KCl eutectic melt has been studied by cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, chronoamperometry, and gas analysis. Nitride ions are oxidized to form nitrogen gas almost quantitatively on nickel electrodes according to the following reaction N3- = 1/2N(2) + 3e(-) This is a reversible, one-step, three-electron reaction governed by a simple diffusion-controlled charge-transfer process. The diffusion coefficient of nitride ion was found to be similar to 1 x 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1) at 470 degrees C.