Aluminum assisted electrodeposition of europium in LiCl–KCl molten salt

Abstract

Cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were employed to investigate the electrodeposition of Eu and Al in an LiCl–KCl eutectic melt containing Eu 2+ and Al 3+ at 450 °C. In order to deposit a pure Eu and Al alloy, the stoichiometrically lower concentration of Al 3+ than that of Eu 2+ and Al wires as a counter electrode was introduced into the bath of LiCl–KCl melt for the electrodeposition. The electrodeposition takes place at a potential more negative than −1.95 V vs. Ag|Ag + while the deposit is oxidized at more positive potential than −1.92 V. Two new reduction peaks and an anodic peak on a W working electrode were observed at −2.39 V, −2.42 V, and −2.1 V, vs. Ag|Ag +, respectively, suggesting that the potential window of the Al system in LiCl–KCl melt can be extended to −2.43 V vs. Ag|Ag +. The EDS analysis indicated that AlEu can be deposited at the potential more negative than −2.37 V.