The electrodeposited titanium powders in nonaqueous propylene carbonate solution

Abstract

Titanium has many good chemical and physical properties. This study investigates the electrodeposition of titanium in nonaqueous propylene carbonate solution at low temperature though the amount of electrodeposited titanium is a little. The amount of electrodeposited titanium increases with an increase of propylene carbonate. The order of electrodeposited titanium amount was at pH 4.5 > 6.0 > 3.0 in slightly acidic solution owing to hydrogen ion as an accelator. The solution is not too acidic or the electrodeposited titanium powders reduce because of hydrogen gas being evolved. The amount of electrodeposited titanium on the copper cathode is less than that on the titanium cathode because hydrogen gas is more easily evolved on copper cathode. Furthermore, the X-ray diffraction analysis of electrodeposited titanium powders has characteristic peaks which are at 2 θ = 40.22° and 38.36°. It is nearly the same as that of standard data. The EDS analysis of electrodeposited titanium powders were a little different from that of standard data. The shape of titanium powders whose size is about 10 μm is rough by SEM analysis. Otherwise, the proposed mechanism explains the reaction of titanium tetrachloride-propylene carbonate to electrodeposite titanium powders with hydrogen ion acceleration, in slightly acidic solution. Because the hydrogen ion reinforces the C–O bond of C–O–R of propylene carbonate and another C–O bond of C–O–R of propylene carbonate easily breaks, the Ti(ORCl) 4 and carbon dioxide are formed. Hence, the Ti(ORCl) 4 proceeds reduction to form titanium.