Anodic dissolution behavior of Zr‐Dy alloy in LiCl‐KCl molten salt

Abstract

To research Zr-Dy alloy dissolution behavior at anode, the electrode process of LiCl-KCl-K2ZrF6-DyCl3 on an inert W electrode was firstly explored through a group of electrochemical techniques. The depolarization phenomenon was observed owing to the formation of Zr-Dy solid solution, and the redox potentials of Dy(III)/Dy, Zr(II)/Zr-Dy solid solution, Zr(IV)/Zr(II) and Zr(II)/Zr(0) were determined. Then, Zr and Zr-Dy alloy dissolution behaviors at anode were explored by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. It was confirmed that the rapid dissolution potentials of Zr and Zr-Dy solid solution were observed at −0.86 V and − 1.90 V, and the passivation phenomena of Zr and Zr-Dy solid solution were also observed. Zr-Dy alloy dissolution at anode was conducted employing constant potential (CP) and current (CC) electrolysis. It was found that both Dy and Zr could be dissolved by CC electrolysis. However, Zr dissolution could be controlled by CP electrolysis. Furthermore, Zr-Dy alloy dissolution process was monitored online at different current densities, the dissolution rate increased with the increase of the applied current density.