Formation of Fine Nickel Particles by Discharge Electrolysis in Molten Chloride System

Abstract

A stationary discharge was generated in molten chloride by simple apparatus and successfully applied at electrolysis. Fine nickel particles were obtained using a LiCl-KCl-NiCl₂ melt under atmospheric argon gas. From the grading analysis which was estimated through the SEM observation of fine nickel particles, the particles were almost spherical, and the particle sizes were found to depend on the concentration of NiCl₂ and the charge. For the growth of fine nickel particles, the particle sizes were compared with numerical solutions of a Brownian collision-coalescence in colloidal suspensions.