Electrochemical formation of Mg-Lu alloy and alloy layer in molten LiCl-KCl

In the present work, the electrochemical behaviors of Lu (III) ions in molten LiCl-KCl and LiCl-KCl-MgCl2 were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, and chronopotentiometry, respectively. Galvanostatic electrolysis was conducted on a molybdenum electrode to prepare the Mg-Lu alloys, while potentiostatic electrolysis was conducted on a magnesium electrode to prepare the Mg-Lu alloy layers. The microstructure and microzone analysis of the obtained deposits were characterized by XRD and SEM-EDS. An intermetallic compound of MgLu was formed by galvanostatic electrolysis, whereas two kinds of intermetallic compound (Mg24Lu5 and MgLu) and Lu metal in the alloy layer.