Elsevier, Electrochimica Acta, (147), p. 352-359
DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2014.09.107
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Electrochemical reduction of solid GeO 2 has been investigated in the mixed CaCl 2 -NaCl melt at 1023 K for developing a more efficient process for preparation of Ge. Cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic electrolysis were applied to study the GeO 2 -loaded metallic cavity electrode. In addition, porous GeO 2 pellets were reduced by potentiostatic and constant cell voltage electrolysis with a graphite anode, and the electrolysis products were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, focusing on understanding the reduction mechanism and the impact of electrode potential on the product purity. It was found that the reduction of GeO 2 to Ge occurred at a potential of about -0.50 V (vs. Ag/Ag +), but generating various calcium germanates simultaneously, whose reduction was a little more difficult and needed a potential more negative than -1.00 V. However, if the cathode potential exceeded -1.60 V, Ca (or Na) -Ge intermetallic compounds might form. These results gave an appropriate potential range between -1.10 and -1.40 V for the production of pure germanium. Rapid electrolysis of GeO 2 to pure Ge has been realized at a cell voltage of 2.5 V with a current efficiency of about 92%.