The reduction of Tm(Ⅲ) on a liquid Zn electrode was investigated in a Li Cl-KCl melt via cyclic voltammetry,square wave voltammetry, and open circuit chronopotentiometry. On a liquid Zn electrode, the reduction mechanism of Tm(Ⅲ) ions is through one step with the exchange of three electrons via the formation of a Zn-Tm alloy. This differs from that on an inert electrode, as the reduction is Tm(Ⅲ) ions were though two consecutive steps. Galvanostatic electrolysis was carried out at a liquid Zn electrode at different current densities in a LiClKCl-TmCl3 melt. The Tm2Zn17 intermetallic compound was identified in the deposit, except in the Zn phase,by X-ray Diffraction(XRD).
Electrochemical behavior of Mg, Li and Sn on tungsten electrodes in LiC1-KC1-MgCI2- SnC12 melts at 873 K was investigated. Cyclic voltammograms （CVs） showed that the underpotential deposition （UPD） of magnesium on pre-deposited tin leads to the formation of a Mg-Sn alloy, and the succeeding underpotential deposition of lithium on pre-deposited Mg-Sn alloy leads to the formation of a Mg-Li-Sn alloy. Chronopo- tentiometric measurements indicated that the codepositon of Mg, Li and Sn occurs at current densities more negative than -1.16 A.cm-~. X-ray diffraction （XRD） in- dicated that Mg2Sn phase is formed via galvanostatic electrolysis. The element Mg distributes homogeneously and Sn locates mainly on the grain boundaries in the Mg- Li-Sn alloy.
