Electrode Effect on Separation of Yb/Tm, Lu by an Electrolytic Reduction Process in Sulphate Medium

YbSO4 purification by an electrolytic reduction method from Tm-Yb-Lu concentrates in sulphate medium was studied, in which Ru-Ir-Ti alloy nets and mercury were used as anode and cathode respectively under normal atmosphere without nitrogen or argon gas protection. The parameters of the electrodes, such as their areas, positions, and the distance between the anode and cathode were optimized for the electrolytic reduction process. By the optimal process, the product YbSO4 is purified to 99. 5% with recovery of 80%. Meanwhile, Lu is also concentrated into 50%, which is beneficial to its further purification.

A Study on the Kinetics of the Europium Electrochemistry Reduction (Ⅱ)——The Europium Electroreduction Kinetic Properties

This article studied the europium electroreduction kinetic properties in the Sm-Eu-Gd chloride system by using an electrolytic cell with membrane and constant potential method.The results indicate that within the parameter range of this study the europium reduction speed up with the increase of the system's temperature,the stirring intensity,feed concentration and the cathod area,and with the decrease of the cathodic potential.As the feed acidity increases,the reduction rate decreases.An empirical formula for europium's electroreduction kinetics in this experimental condition is also given.

Electroreduction of Samarium Ion on Co and CuCathodes in Molten Chloride

The cyclic voltammetry was used to study the electrochemical reaction of Sm(III) in NaCl-KCl equimolar mixture on the Co and Cu cathodes. It is reasonable to presume that the reduction of Sm(III) to Sm(II) was realized on Co and Cu electrodes respectively at first step. Sm(II) was subject to the reduction and formed alloys with Co and Cu on the electrode surface.

Nanocarbons and their hybrids as catalysts for non-aqueous lithium–oxygen batteries

Rechargeable lithium-oxygen (Li–O2) batteries have been considered as the most promising candidates for energy storage and conversion devices because of their ultra high energy density. Until now, the critical scientific challenges facing Li–O2batteries are the absence of advanced electrode architectures and highly efficient electrocatalysts for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which seriously hinder the commercialization of this technology. In the last few years, a number of strategies have been devoted to exploring new catalysts with novel structures to enhance the battery performance. Among various of oxygen electrode catalysts, carbon-based materials have triggered tremendous attention as suitable cathode catalysts for Li–O2batteries due to the reasonable structures and the balance of catalytic activity, durability and cost. In this review, we summarize the recent advances and basic understandings related to the carbon-based oxygen electrode catalytic materials, including nanostructured carbon materials (one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers, 2D graphene nanosheets, 3D hierarchical architectures and their doped structures), and metal/metal oxide-nanocarbon hybrid materials (nanocarbon supporting metal/metal oxide and nanocarbon encapsulating metal/metal oxide). Finally, several key points and research directions of the future design for highly efficient catalysts for practical Li–O2batteries are proposed based on the fundamental understandings and achievements of this battery field. © 2016 Science Press

Study on Electrochemical Formation of Neodymium-Iron Alloy

The cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the electrode processes of Nd(III) reduced on iron electrode and Nd(III),Fe(II) reduced on molybdenum electrode in molten chlorides. The Nd-Fe and Nd-rich RE-Fe alloys contained rare earth up to 90wt% were prepared by consumable cathode and electrolytic codeposition. The mechanism of electrochemical formation of Nd-Fe alloy had been discussed.

Effect of temperature on corrosion behavior of 3003 aluminum alloy in ethylene glycol–water solution

The effect of temperature on the corrosion behavior of 3003 aluminum alloy in ethylene glycol–water solution was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The surface characterization was observed and determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results demonstrate that the anodic aluminum dissolution and the cathodic oxygen reduction were accelerated by the increased temperature. However, as temperature was over 60 °C, the solubility and concentration of oxygen decreased, resulting in the inhibition of cathodic reaction. The cathodic reaction rate of 3003 aluminum alloy rose to the maximum at 60 °C. The Warburg impedance in Nyquist diagram diminished and then was replaced by a negative capacitance caused by the absorption of intermediate corrosion product on electrode. On the other hand, after potentiodynamic measurements, 3003 aluminum alloy suffered pitting corrosion. The dissolution of aluminum alloy around secondary phase particles expanded both horizontally and vertically. © 2016 The Authors