Preparation and characterization of polycrystalline lead-exchanged sodium betaII-Alumina and its use as a Pb2+ ion-conducting electrolyte for galvanic cells

Abstract

Sodium in Na+β″-alumina was partially exchanged with lead by ion exchange between polycrystalline Na+β″-alumina and a molten salt mixture containing lead cations. Examination of the exchanged material showed that it was free of cracks and porosity and that the lead was uniformly distributed. The bulk conductivity of the exchanged material was measured using molten lead electrodes and a two-probe alternating current technique. The electrochemical behavior of lead ions in the material was investigated using a concentration cell of the type W, Pb (1) |Pb-partially-exchanged Na+β″-alumina|Pb−Bi (1), W It was found that the lead ion behaved as Pb2+, and its mobility was high in the exchanged Na+β″-alumina over the range 723 to 1098 K. It is concluded that the prepared Pb2+−Na+βt″-alumina could-be used as Pb2+ ion-conducting solid electrolytes in galvanic cells for thermodynamic measurements on Pb-containing and Na-free metallic melts or Pb2+-containing and Na+-free slags or mattes.