Electrochemical behaviour of erbium and preparation of Mg-Li-Er alloys by codeposition

The electrodeposition of erbium on molybdenum electrodes and the formation of Mg-Li-Er alloys were investigated in LiCl-KCl molten salts. At a molybdenum electrode, the electroreduction of Er (III) proceeded in a one-step process involving three electrons. The diffusion coefficient of erbium ions in the melts was determined by cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and chronoamperometry respectively. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) showed that the underpotential deposition (UPD) of lithium on pre-deposited Mg-Er alloy led to the formation of a Mg-Li-Er alloy. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that Er5Mg24 phase was formed via potentiostatic electrolysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that Er atoms mainly concentrated at the grain boundaries while Mg element evenly located in the alloy.