Kinetics of aluminium deposition from aluminium chloride—alkali chloride melts

The kinetics of aluminium deposition from NaClAlCl₃ and NaClKClAlCl₃ melts (c_AlCl3 < 0.4 mol%) was studied by linear sweep voltammetry and potential step amperometry. The reduction of AlCl₃ on tungsten and aluminium electrodes was found to be diffusion controlled. The diffusion coefficients of AlCl₃ were: 3.5 × 10^?5 cm² s^?1 at 820°C in NaClAlCl₃, 2.7 × 10^?5cm²s^?1 at 825°C, and 2.1 × 10^?5cm²s^?1 at 705°C in KClNaClAlCl₃. The rate constant for AlCl₃ reduction at these conditions was found to be in the order of 0.2 cm s^?1, in good agreement with extrapolated literature data.