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Abstract: Gibbs energy showed that AlCl3 can chloridize Pr6O11 and release Pr(III) ions in the LiCl–KCl–Pr6O11–AlCl3 melts. The co-reduction process of Al(III), Pr(III) and Li(I) ions was investigated in the LiCl–KCl–Pr6O11–AlCl3 melts. Three signals, corresponding to different Al–Pr intermetallic compounds, were observed by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and open circuit chronopotentiometry. Potentiostatic and galvanostatic electrolysis were conducted to extract Pr element from LiCl–KCl eutectic melts by forming Al–Pr and Al–Li–Pr alloys, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that both Al–Pr and Al–Li–Pr alloys comprised Al2Pr phase. The composition of Al–Li–Pr alloys was analyzed by inductive coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). The proportion of Pr element in Al–Li–Pr alloys exceeded 40wt.% when the concentration of AlCl3 reached 8wt.% in the LiCl–KCl–Pr6O11(1wt.%) melts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The work presents an electrochemical study on preparation of Al–Li–Eu alloys on a tungsten electrode in molten LiCl–KCl–AlCl3–Eu2O3 system at 753K and 953K. Gibbs energy shows that AlCl3 can chloridize Eu2O3, with a discharge in the form of Eu(III) ions on the cathode. The electrochemical behavior of Al(III), Li(I) and Eu(III) and alloy formation processes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, and chronopotentiometry. Cyclic voltammetry indicated that the underpotential deposition of europium on pre-deposited Al forms two Al–Eu intermetallic compounds at electrode potentials around −2.00V and −2.34V, respectively. And the underpotential deposition of lithium on Al surface at about −2.24V leads to a formation of Al–Li alloy. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that Al–Li–Eu alloys with different phases were obtained via galvanostatic electrolysis. The microstructure and micro-zone chemical analysis of Al–Li–Eu alloy were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), respectively. The analysis of EDS showed that element Eu mainly distributes on needle-like precipitate, and not homogeneously in the Al–Li–Eu alloy. Composition of the alloys was analyzed by inductive coupled plasma analysis, and current efficiency was also determined with respect to the alloy composition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]