Electrochemically Assisted Formation of Fine Niobium Powder in Molten Salt

Abstract

The electrochemically assisted formation of niobium powder in a molten salt was investigated in order to develop a process for producing fine metal powder for use in electronic devices. A niobium rod (anode) was immersed in molten salt at , and it was anodically polarized and dissolved in this salt. The electrochemically dissolved niobium ions were subsequently reduced in situ by dysprosium divalent ions present in the molten salt; this resulted in the production of niobium powder. The reductant, , in the molten salt was regenerated either by electrochemical reactions at the cathode or by magnesiothermic reduction. Fine niobium powder with a narrow particle size distribution (, , ) was successfully obtained under a specific condition. Further, it was found that the particle size of the niobium powder can be effectively controlled by varying the concentration in the molten salt.