An electrochemical method for the preparation of Mg–Li alloys at low temperature molten salt system

Abstract

Mg–Li alloys have been prepared by electrolysis in a molten salt electrolyte of 50% LiCl–50% KCl (mass%) at low temperature of 420–510 °C. The effects of electrolytic temperature and cathodic current density on alloy formation rate and current efficiency were studied. For the deposition of metallic lithium on the cathode consisting of solid Mg and liquid Mg–Li, both electrolytic temperature and cathodic current density have no obvious influence on current efficiency; while for the deposition of metallic lithium on the solid magnesium cathode, both electrolytic temperature and cathodic current density greatly affect alloy formation rate and current efficiency. The optimum electrolysis condition is—molten salt mixture, LiCl:KCl = 1:1 (mass%), electrolytic temperature: 480 °C, cathode current density: 1.13 A cm −2. Mg–Li alloys with low lithium content (about 25 wt% Li) were prepared via electrolysis at low temperature following by thermal treatment at higher temperature.