Electrochemical synthesis of rare-earth metal (Eu, Nd) borides in molten salts

Rare-earth metal borides are widely used in different fields of modern techniques. Electrochemical synthesis at moderate temperatures (973–1023 K) is a cost-effective alternative to direct reaction techniques. The present work reports the mechanism and kinetics of boron and europium, boron and neodymium joint electrodischarge in chloride-fluoride molten systems. The optimum regimes of europium and neodymium borides electrodeposition are worked out on the base of voltammetric experiments. Europium compound is synthesized as a single-phase EuB6 product, while neodymium compounds is co-deposited as NdB4 and NdB6.