Electrochemical formation of Al–Tm intermetallics in eutectic LiCl–KCl melt containing Tm and Al ions

Abstract

This work focuses on investigating the electrochemical formation of Al–Tm and Al–Li–Tm alloys in LiCl–KCl–AlCl3–Tm2O3 melt on both W and Al electrodes. Thermodynamic calculation and electrochemical behavior of LiCl–KCl melt containing both AlCl3 and Tm2O3 showed that AlCl3 can chlorinate Tm2O3 to release Tm(III) ions. Three kinds of Al–Tm intermetallics at about −1.26, −1.32 and −1.43V were detected by means of various electrochemical measurement techniques, i.e. cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and open circuit chronopotentiometry. Potentiostatic and galvanostatic electrolysis were carried out on Al and W electrodes to prepare Al–Tm and Al–Li–Tm alloys, respectively. The composition of Al–Li–Tm alloys was analyzed by inductive coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES).