The Electrochemical Formation of Ni-Tb Intermetallic Compounds on a Nickel Electrode in the LiCl-KCl Eutectic Melts

Abstract

The work presents an electrochemical study on the formation of Ni-Tb intermetallic compounds in the LiCl-KCl-TbCl3 melts on tungsten and nickel electrodes at 773 K (500 °C) by electrochemical techniques. For a tungsten electrode, cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry showed that the electrochemical reduction of Tb(III) proceeded in a one-step process involving three electrons at −2.06 V (vs Ag/AgCl). For a nickel electrode, the reduction potential of Tb(III)/Tb was observed at more positive values than those on W electrode by cyclic voltammetry, due to the formation of Ni-Tb intermetallic compounds. Square-wave voltammetry and open-circuit chronopotentiometry put into evidence the formation of intermetallic compounds at around −1.27, −1.63, and −1.88 V, respectively. Three alloy samples were obtained by potentiostatic electrolysis on a Ni electrode at various potentials and analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron micrograph, and energy-dispersive spectrometry. The analysis results confirmed the formation of Ni17Tb2, Ni5Tb, and Ni2Tb alloy compounds.