Method for making lithium aluminide compound in atmospheric environment

Abstract

A method for making lithium aluminide compound in atmospheric environment at a working temperature includes accomplishing a diffusive electrolysis in an electrolyte composed of lithium chloride, potassium chloride and calcium chloride, exerting a direct current (voltage) on the electrolyte to reduce the lithium ions into lithium atoms on the surface of an rotative aluminum cathode, and subsequently the lithium atoms diffusing into the aluminum cathode during the electrolysis.

1 . A method for making lithium aluminide compound in an atmospheric environment, and the method comprising:
 providing an aluminum material as a cathode;   dipping the cathode into an electrolyte composed of lithium chloride and potassium chloride; and   exerting a direct current to the electrolyte at a working temperature and rotating the cathode with a predetermined rotating speed to perform a diffusive electrolysis, the lithium chloride of the electrolyte is decomposed and the lithium ions are reduced into lithium atoms at the surface of cathode, subsequently diffusing into the cathode to form a lithium aluminide compound during electrolysis.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte essentially consists of 20˜45 wt. % lithium chloride, 30˜60 wt. % potassium chloride, and less than 5 wt. % calcium chloride. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the working temperature is kept within a range of 400° C.˜510° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined rotating speed is under 60 rpm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the direct current is kept within a range of 0.02 A˜0.06 A per unit area of cathode surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diffusive electrolysis uses a graphite material as an anode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition of the lithium aluminide compound is within the range of Al-2 wt. % Li˜Al-50 wt. % Li.