Physicochemical properties of DMI–LiNO3 solvated ionic liquid and its application in electrodeposition of neodymium at room temperature

The density, conductivity, and viscosity of the 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolinone and lithium nitrate (DMI– LiNO3) solvated ionic liquid were measured as a function of temperature. Additionally, the electrochemical mechanism and electrodeposition of neodymium from the DMI–LiNO3 solvated ionic liquid were investigated. Cyclic voltammetry results indicate that the electrochemical reduction of Nd(III) is irreversible and proceeds via one-step with three-electron transfer, which is controlled by diffusion with a diffusion coefficient of 5.08×10−8 cm2/s. Energy- dispersive X-ray spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data confirm that the electrodeposit obtained after electrodeposition at −4 V (vs Ag) using the DMI–LiNO3–Nd(CF3SO3)3 solvated ionic liquid contains metallic neodymium.