| Abstract Scope |
Understanding thermodynamics of electrode reactions is essential for a successful design of electrochemical processes for production of metals, batteries, and corrosion-resistant alloys in aggressive chemical environments. This work presents electrochemical approaches for determining thermodynamic properties of electrode reactions based on electromotive force (emf) measurements of alloy electrodes (e.g., Li-Bi, K-Bi, Ca-Bi) in solid electrolytes and cyclic voltammetry technique in molten salts (e.g., SO42‒ and Te2‒). The development of stable reference electrodes (e.g., Ca-Bi) in a given electrolyte (e.g., CaF2) is an important consideration for reliable electrochemical measurements and thus, the selection criteria and compatibility of cell components are presented. Reliable thermodynamic properties provided crucial insights into the design of electrode materials for liquid metal batteries, the separation of energy-critical materials such as alkaline-earth (Sr, Ba) and rare-earth (Nd, Gd) elements, and the strategies to control the degradation reactions of structural components in molten salt solutions. |