Electrochemical Formation of Mg–Li–Yb Alloys at Solid Magnesium Electrode from LiCl–KCl–YbCl3 Melts at Low Temperature

Abstract

Abstract This work presents a novel study on electrochemical preparation of Mg–Li–Yb alloys at a magnesium electrode in LiCl–KCl–YbCl3 melts at 743 K. Cyclic voltammograms showed that the reduction of ytterbium(III) ions is a stepwise reaction. The codeposition of Yb and Li takes place at magnesium electrode when the current intensity exceeds 60 mA in LiCl–KCl melts containing 2 wt % YbCl3. α, α + β, and β phases. Mg–Li–Yb alloys with different lithium contents were obtained by potentiostatic electrolysis at a magnesium electrode from LiCl–KCl melts with different concentrations YbCl3.