Electrochemical Formation of Nd-Ni Alloys in Molten LiF-CaF₂-NdF₃

Abstract

The electrochemical formation of Nd-Ni alloys was investigated in a molten LiF-CaF 2 -NdF 3 (0.30 mol%) system at 1123 K. Cyclic voltammetry and open-circuit potentiometry indicated the formation of several phases of Nd-Ni alloys. The whole electrode became almost NdNi 2 phase by potentiostatic electrolysis of a 0.2 mm-thick Ni plate at 0.15 V vs. Li+/Li for 75 minutes. The formed NdNi 2 electrodes were transformed to other phases such as NdNi 3 and NdNi 5 . The existences of NdNi 2 , NdNi 3 and NdNi 5 were confirmed by powder XRD analysis. By summarizing the results, the formation potential for each alloy phase has been determined.