Electrodeposition and Characterization of Lanthanide Elements on Carbon Sheets

Abstract

Electrochemical coating and recovery by electrodeposition have been invaluably employed for facial thin film fabrication and the recycling of used materials. Herein, we have established a full data set of lanthanide (Ln: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb) elements electrodeposited on carbon sheets. Cyclic voltammetry was performed for 10 mM Ln(III) ions in a 0.1 M NaClO4 electrolyte over a carbon sheet between +0.5 V and −1.7 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Amperometry was performed at a given potential to electrodeposit the Ln element on the carbon sheet. Their physicochemical properties were fully investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The newly established full data set for Ln(III) ions over carbon electrodes provides useful fundamental information for the development of coating and recovery methods of Ln elements.