Electrodeposition of Li and electrochemical formation of Mg–Li alloys from the eutectic LiCl–KCl

The electrochemical behavior of Li+ was studied at the inert and active electrodes in the molten LiCl–KCl eutectic. Transient electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and chronopotentiometry were used in order to explore the deposition mechanism of Li. The reduction process of Li+ is irreversible and the diffusion coefficient of Li+ at 723 K was determined as 6.68(±0.07) × 10−6 cm2 s−1. During the electrodeposition process of Li, the electrocrystallization played an important role. The chronoamperometric studies indicated that instantaneous nucleation existed during the electrodeposition process of Li metal. At a Mg electrode, the electroreduction of Li+ takes place at a less cathodic potential values than that at Mo electrode which indicated the formation of Mg–Li alloy. The Mg–Li alloy films with different crystal phase were obtained by potentiostatic electrolysis, and the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.