Electrodeposition of Rare-Earth Metals (Yttrium, Samarium and Terbium) from a Deep Eutectic Solvent

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a new class of ionic liquid ( IL) analogues, which show a wide electrochemical window and the unique physicochemical properties, and have promising applications in electrodeposition. Herein, a choline chloride- urea based DES was proposed as a medium for electrodeposition of three rare-earth metals ( yttrium, samarium and terbium). All three metals were successfully deposited in the DES by cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic methods. The results indicate that the electrodepositions of yttrium, samarium and terbium in the DES are diffusion controlled processes, and the diffusion coefficients of yttrium, samarium and terbium in DES at 60 degrees C are 7.3744x10(-13), 1.1032x10(-12), and 9.2936x10(-13) cm(2)/ s, respectively. The deposits of three rare-earth metals with two-dimensional nanonetwork structure are obtained by cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic methods.