Electrochemical Behavior of Dissolved Titanium Species in Molten Salts

Abstract

The electrochemical behaviour of dissolved titanium species was studied in different molten salt electrolytes. In molten chloride electrolytes the presence of Ti (III) and the tendency for disproportionation of Ti (II) into TI (III) and Ti (0) cause poor current efficiencies. In molten fluoride containing electrolytes the deposition of titanium occurs from Ti (III) since Ti (II) species are unstable. The use of an anode consisting of titanium oxycarbide combined with a liquid cathode is a promising approach to produce pure titanium.