Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Electrodeposition of alkaline metals from propylene carbonate solutions of salts

stamasd - 14-2-2021 at 11:33

I just came across this article https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8m6348vh
(I'll attach it as pdf as well)

In it, the authors prepared lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium by electrolysis of various of their salts at normal room temperature from propylene carbonate solutions. The only caveats were that the PC had to be very dry, and it was done under atmosphere of argon (duh).

I'm very tempted to attempt it myself.



Attachment: electrodeposition of alkaline metals from propylene carbonate.pdf (1.4MB)
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stamasd - 14-2-2021 at 16:07

Additionally, I found this: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ie049948i
Maybe I'll try to use this method to make propylene carbonate from urea and propylene glycol.

clearly_not_atara - 14-2-2021 at 17:35

This method has been discussed and seems promising. PrC is used for the electrolyte in lithium batteries, which effectively proves that lithium (at least) can be deposited from PrC solutions.

JuliusCaesium - 27-7-2021 at 11:19

Has anyone actually had success with this method? I am trying to find a way to electroplate with alkali metals and having difficulty with the procedure, so I'd love any tips or words of wisdom.

Triflic Acid - 28-7-2021 at 05:30

Also, for those looking for PC, some types of non-acetone nail polish removers have PC and EtOH mixed in. Distillation should separate them. Will try some time in the next weeks