Electrochemical Behavior of Copper in Thionyl Chloride Solutions.
Abstract
The electrochemical and chemical behavior of copper and copper chlorides was studied in 1.5 molar LiAlCl4-SOCl2 solutions using cyclic voltammetric, controlled potential electrolysis and x-ray techniques. It was shown that copper metal reacts with thionyl chloride even at ambient temperatures resulting in the formation of cuprous chloride and cupric sulfide. In LiAlCl4-SOCl2 solutions, cuprous chloride is further oxidized, chemically as well as electrochemically, to cupric chloride. Cupric chloride was found to be electroactive in these solutions and undergoes reduction in the solid state to cuprous chloride and copper, respectively. It was also found that due to the presence of copper chloride films at the copper metal electrode in these solutions, the electrochemical reduction of thionyl chloride at copper electrodes occurs at more negative potentials than observed at carbon electrodes. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA097425
Entities
People
- Wishvender K. Behl
Organizations
- United States Army Communications-Electronics Command