Deposition Studies of Lithium and Bismuth at Tungsten Microelectrodes in LiCl : KCl Eutectic

The authors discuss tungsten microelectrodes (diam = 25 {mu}m) used to study the deposition and stripping behavior of Li/Li+ and Bi/Bi/sup 3+/ in the LiCl:KCl eutectic at 400{sup 0}C. The Li deposition current can be simulated assuming the growth of a single hemisphere of liquid metal on the microelectrode. High stripping current densities were observed and quantitated using standard electrochemical equipment. An inverted microscope assembly was employed for in situ observation of the Li/Li+ deposition and stripping processes at the microelectrode. A precipitate appears to form in the melt surrounding the electrode during Li deposition.