Electrochemical preparation of Al- Li alloy from Urea-LiCl molten salt at 353-393 K

Al-Li alloy was prepared by electrodeposition on solid aluminum electrode in a urea-LiCl (77.5:22.5, mol%) molten salt system at 353-393 K. The results of cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry show that underpotential deposition of Li occurs on the Al electrode and forms phases of Al(a) and AlLi(d) which are confirmed by XRD measurements. Scanning electron microscopy observation of deposits indicates that Al-Li alloy with the thickness of 143 mu m was obtained by potentiostatic electrolysis at -0.5 V vs. Li+/Li. The Li content in the alloy obtained at 373 K can reach 6.9 wt%. Galvanostatic electrolysis at 20 A demonstrated that Al-Li alloy coating on aluminum plate can be obtained from urea-LiCl electrolyte at 373 K in the atmosphere.

Automated summary

In this study, an Al-Li alloy was prepared by electrodeposition on a solid aluminum electrode in a urea-LiCl molten salt system. The underpotential deposition of Li on the Al electrode was observed, forming Al(a) and AlLi(d) phases, which were confirmed by XRD measurements. The obtained Al-Li alloy deposit had a thickness of 143 μm under the potentiostatic electrolysis at -0.5 V vs. Li+/Li. The Li content in the alloy obtained at 373 K reached 6.9 wt%. Galvanostatic electrolysis at 20 A demonstrated the feasibility of obtaining Al-Li alloy coating on an aluminum plate from the urea-LiCl electrolyte at 373 K.