Electrochemical Mechanism of Molten Salt Electrolysis from TiO<sub>2</sub> to Titanium
Xianghai Meng,
Hongmei Zhao,
Sheng Bi,
Zilai Ju,
Zhenming Yang,
Yu Yang,
Hui Li,
Jinglong Liang
Affiliations
Xianghai Meng
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tangshan Polytechnic College, Tangshan 063299, China
Hongmei Zhao
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tangshan Polytechnic College, Tangshan 063299, China
Sheng Bi
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tangshan Polytechnic College, Tangshan 063299, China
Zilai Ju
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tangshan Polytechnic College, Tangshan 063299, China
Zhenming Yang
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tangshan Polytechnic College, Tangshan 063299, China
Yu Yang
Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Modern Metallurgy Technology, College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
Hui Li
Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Modern Metallurgy Technology, College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
Jinglong Liang
Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Modern Metallurgy Technology, College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
Electrochemical mechanisms of molten salt electrolysis from TiO2 to titanium were investigated by Potentiostatic electrolysis, cyclic voltammetry, and square wave voltammetry in NaCl-CaCl2 at 800 °C. The composition and morphology of the product obtained at different electrolysis times were characterized by XRD and SEM. CaTiO3 phase was found in the TiO2 electrochemical reduction process. Electrochemical reduction of TiO2 to titanium is a four-step reduction process, which can be summarized as TiO2→Ti4O7→Ti2O3→TiO→Ti. Spontaneous and electrochemical reactions take place simultaneously in the reduction process. The electrochemical reduction of TiO2→Ti4O7→Ti2O3→TiO affected by diffusion was irreversible.
