Stability of sodium electrodeposited from a room temperature chloroaluminate molten salt

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2048391· OSTI ID:153681

Gray, G E; Kohl, P A; Winnick, J ^[1]

---

1. Georgia Inst. of Tech., Atlanta, GA (United States). School of Chemical Engineering

Room temperature molten salts consisting of 1-methyl-3-ethylimidazolium chloride (MEIC) and aluminium chloride (AlCl{sub 3}) have been examined as possible electrolytes for a room temperature design of the sodium/iron(II) chloride battery. This work examines the conditions required to achieve efficient reduction and oxidation of sodium from a sodium chloride buffered, neutral melt. Two substrates were examined, tungsten and 303 stainless steel, using both cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. Melts were protonated using a closed electrochemical cell to allow quantification of the effect of dissolved HCl on the efficiency of the sodium couple. A threshold of approximately 6 Torr HCl partial pressure was observed for sodium plating-stripping. Below this threshold, the sodium couple was not observed. The results, show that the sodium plating-stripping efficiency increases with increasing current density; however, the efficiency reaches a maximum and is adversely affected by high over potentials and extended exposure of the sodium to the melt. It appears that some passivation occurs as even a very thin layer of plated sodium exhibits a steady open-circuit voltage over long periods in the melt.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 153681
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 142; ISSN JESOAN; ISSN 0013-4651
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
ALUMINIUM CHLORIDES
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROPLATING
IRON CHLORIDES
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
MOLTEN SALTS
PERFORMANCE
REDOX REACTIONS
SODIUM CHLORIDES
STAINLESS STEEL-303
TUNGSTEN