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Preparation of vanadium powder and vanadium–titanium alloys by the electroreduction of V2O3 and TiO2 powders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2016

Tian Wu
Affiliation:
College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, People's Republic of China; and College of Chemistry and Life Science, Hubei University of Education, Wuhan 430205, People's Republic of China
Xiaoling Ma*
Affiliation:
College of Chemistry and Life Science, Hubei University of Education, Wuhan 430205, People's Republic of China
Xianbo Jin*
Affiliation:
College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, People's Republic of China
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: xbjin@whu.edu.cn
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Abstract

Electroreduction of solid V2O3 pellets (∼0.7 g) to V in molten CaCl2 at 900 °C has been studied by cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic electrolysis, together with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray, and elemental analyses. The intermediate products of the potentiostatic electrolysis are various, forming some lower valence state compounds (VO, V16O3, V7O3, VO0.2) and higher valence state which are likely VO2, CaVO3, or CaV2O5. At potentials more negative than −0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl, fine vanadium powder (aggregates of nodular ∼500 nm particles) can be prepared by electrolysis of porous solid of the V2O3 pellets. The current efficiency and energy consumption were satisfactory, about 53.4% and 2.5 kW h/(kg V) at −0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl, respectively. Moreover, V–20Ti alloys were electrochemically synthesized by constant voltage electrolysis at the indicated potentials, the control of composition as well as the reduction optimization of the mixtures were demonstrated. This electrochemical route is efficient and offers a product with controlled stoichiometry, with particular advantage of manufacturing of low cost alloys and intermetallics directly from mixed oxide precursors, and has potential to produce functional vanadium alloys.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

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Footnotes

Contributing Editor: Jürgen Eckert

References

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