A novel electrochemical study was made of the co-deposition of Mg, Li and Al on a molybdenum electrode in LiCl-KCl-MgCl2-AlCl3 melts at 943K to form Mg-Li-Al alloys. Cyclic voltammograms showed that the underpotential deposition of magnesium on pre-deposited aluminum led to the formation of a liquid Mg-Al solution, and the succeeding underpotential deposition of lithium on pre-deposited Mg-Al led to the formation of a liquid Mg-Li-Al solution. The diffusion coefficient of aluminum ions in the melts was determined using various electrochemical techniques. Values of 6.5 x 10-6, 8.4 x 10-6 and 2.87 x 10-5cm2/s were found using cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and chronoamperometry, respectively.

Electrochemical Study of the Co-Deposition of Mg-Li-Al Alloys from LiCl-KCl-MgCl2-AlCl3 Melts. Y.D.Yan, M.L.Zhang, Y.Xue, W.Han, D.X.Cao, L.Y.He: Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2009, 39[3], 455-61