The electrochemical behaviour of Er(III) was studied in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic at 653 to 823K. Cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and chronoamperometry were used to study the reaction mechanism and the transport parameters of electroactive species at a tungsten electrode. The results showed that the reduction of Er(III) occurred during a step involving the exchange of three electrons, and that electrocrystallization played an important role in electrodeposition. Chronoamperometric studies indicated instantaneous nucleation of erbium, with 3-dimensional growth of the nuclei; regardless of the applied overpotential. Mass transport towards the electrode was a simple diffusion process, and the temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient of the electroactive species Er(III) was described by log[D] = -2.77 – 1695/T.

Electrochemical Behaviour of Erbium in the Eutectic LiCl-KCl at W and Al Electrodes. Y.Castrillejo, M.R.Bermejo, E.Barrado, A.M.Martínez: Electrochimica Acta, 2006, 51[10], 1941-51

 

Table 100

Diffusivity of Sm in LiCl-KCl Melts

 

Temperature (K)

Method

D (cm2/s)

673

cyclic voltammetry

4.25 x 10-6

673

cyclic potentiometry

4.57 x 10-6

673

cyclic amperometry

4.21 x 10-6

723

cyclic voltammetry

5.83 x 10-6

723

cyclic potentiometry

5.78 x 10-6

723

cyclic amperometry

5.92 x 10-6

748

cyclic voltammetry

7.50 x 10-6

748

cyclic potentiometry

7.51 x 10-6

773

cyclic voltammetry

9,32 x 10-6

773

cyclic potentiometry

8.89 x 10-6

773

cyclic amperometry

8.97 x 10-6

823

cyclic voltammetry

1.16 x 10-5

823

cyclic potentiometry

1.22 x 10-5

823

cyclic amperometry

1.19 x 10-5