opfromthestart - 2-5-2019 at 07:45
Is there any solvent that could be used to hypothetically hold Na+, or for that case K+, in solution without being reduced or oxidized by a sufficient
current to reduce sodium chloride or hydroxide(or maybe an organic anion) to sodium metal?
For example:
Sodium chloride or sodium acetate in acetone(IIRC acetic acid is electrolyzed to acetone)
Sodium benzoate in benzene or phenol or something like that.
Tsjerk - 2-5-2019 at 08:04
You might have more luck with lithium, this is more soluble in inert solvents.
opfromthestart - 2-5-2019 at 08:17
What compounds of lithium specifically? And what solvents?
Tsjerk - 2-5-2019 at 11:54
Attachment: qt79h5j8w5.pdf (1.3MB)
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opfromthestart - 2-5-2019 at 12:44
Thank you
elementcollector1 - 3-5-2019 at 19:02
Propylene carbonate is a good one to start with IMHO, though you should make sure both your solvent and salt are very, very dry before trying.
Raniphad - 25-7-2019 at 02:40
Thank you for the information.
walruslover69 - 25-7-2019 at 08:18
Propylene or ethylene carbonate are both the best options
Bestbmc - 5-5-2021 at 14:26
Has anyone managed to get propylene or ethylene carbonate to work to deposit metals? It seems most threads end without much answers.
clearly_not_atara - 5-5-2021 at 16:13
^It's not as simple as it sounds. Everything must be anhydrous, the operating voltage must be carefully controlled, the membrane cell must be properly
assembled, et cetera.
The electrodeposition of sodium has been achieved (published) by electrolysis of the chloroaluminate in nitrobenzene. Please do not ask for the
reference as I read it years ago and have forgotten 
So it is possible. But in
practice, magnesiothermal methods make more sense.
The OTC preparation of lithium bis(oxalato)borate is very achievable and this salt has good solubility in PC, possibly enabling electrodeposition.
However, it would just be an adventure in electrochemistry -- there is nothing practical about it!
rockyit98 - 5-5-2021 at 17:52
Attachment: The solvation of anions in propylene carbonate.pdf (2.8MB)
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Bestbmc - 6-5-2021 at 06:43
Thanks for the quick replies,
My first question was poorly worded, I wanted to know if anyone had a success with propylene carbonate.
This paper covers a lot on it, preparation, solubility, stability, etc.
I plan to buy 250g of 98% propylene carbonate, distill it, and then dry it over sieves. Lithium iodide seems promising, as it is quite soluble (18g
/100g). According to the paper, the iodine formed is mostly unreactive with the solvent, and the lithium also seems to be unreactive towards the
solvent. If this seems like a good route, that hasn't been attempted yet, I may get to work on a cell.
I don't think anyone has tried to electrolyse a iodide in propylene carbonate yet on this forum, and on paper it seems to be much more promising than
a chloride.
Attachment: Electrochemical studies in cyclic esters.pdf (2.2MB)
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