Electrochemical Reduction Of Zirconium Oxide And Co-Deposition Of Al-Zr Alloy From Cryolite Molten Salt

The electrochemical reduction of zirconium oxide in a molten salt of 2.4NaF center dot AlF3 (molar ratio = 2.4) was studied at 1273 K. Cyclic voltammetry results show that Zr(IV) ions are first reduced to an intermediate valence and, then, are co-deposited with aluminum to form an Al-Zr alloy. Potentiostatic electrolysis experiments were carried out at different potentials (-0.95 and -1.25 V) and at 1273 K, and the electrolysis products were characterized using SEM-EDS and XRD. The XRD analysis confirms that a mixture of cryolite molten salt and ZrO2 was electrodeposited at -0.95 V, while aluminum and Al3Zr were electrodeposited at -1.25 V. The SEM analysis shows that the aluminum and Al3Zr were in two different phases. (C) 2019 The Electrochemical Society.