Electrochemical Synthesis of Intermetallic and Refractory Compounds Based on Rare-Earth Metals in Ionic Melts: Achievements and Prospects

Abstract

The review is devoted to the electrochemical synthesis of intermetallic and refractory compounds of rare-earth metals with the iron triad metals, boron, and silicon in ionic melts. The results of studies of the electrochemical behavior of chloride complexes of lanthanides, iron, cobalt, and nickel as well as fluoroborate and fluorosilicate ions in chloride and chloride-fluoride melts are presented. The features of the processes of simultaneous electroreduction of rare-earth metal ions with metal ions of the iron triad, fluoroborate and fluorosilicate ions are considered. The optimal parameters of electrosynthesis of binary and ternary compounds based on rare-earth metals are given. The prospects for the development of high-temperature electrochemistry of rare-earth metals and technological solutions in the field of electrosynthesis of rare-earth metal compounds in molten salt media are outlined.