Devices and methods for purifying lithium from lithium salts, including those with low concentration of lithium salts, are provided. A molten composition comprising a lithium salt is electrolyzed with an anode in contact with the molten composition and a cathode separated from the molten composition by a solid electrolyte capable of conducting lithium ions.

Devices and methods for purifying lithium from lithium salts, including those with low concentration of lithium salts, are provided. A molten composition comprising a lithium salt is electrolyzed with an anode in contact with the molten composition and a cathode separated from the molten composition by a solid electrolyte capable of conducting lithium ions.

A lithium metal electrode has no more than five ppm of non-metallic elements by mass, and is bonded to a conductive substrate. Optionally, the lithium metal electrode may be bonded on one side to a conductive substrate and on another side to a lithium ion selective membrane. The lithium metal electrode may be integrated into lithium metal batteries. The inventive lithium metal electrode may be manufactured by a process involving electrolysis of lithium ions from an aqueous lithium salt solution through an ion selective membrane, carried out under a blanketing atmosphere having no more than 10 ppm of non-metallic elements, the electrolysis being performed at a constant current between about 10 mA/cm.sup.2 and about 50 mA/cm.sup.2, and wherein the constant current is applied for a time between about 1 minute and about 60 minutes.

Methods are proposed for fabricating highly pure lithium metal electrodes from aqueous lithium salt solutions by means of electrolysis through lithium ion selective membranes, performed at constant current densities between about 10 mA/cm.sup.2 and about 50 mA/cm.sup.2, and wherein the constant current is applied for a time between about 1 minute and about 60 minutes. The electrolysis is performed under a blanketing atmosphere, the blanketing atmosphere being substantially free of lithium reactive components. Methods are further proposed for vertically integrating the electrolytic fabrication of highly pure lithium metal electrodes into the production of lithium metal batteries, the fabrication of lithium electrodes and lithium metal batteries being performed in a single facility.

The invention provides an in situ method for protecting material exposed to molten salt, the method having the steps of supplying metal in a first nonreactive state to the molten salt to create a mixture; measuring a redox state of the mixture; and transforming the metal to a second reactive state when the redox state indicates corrosion of the material is about to occur. Also provided is a system for preventing corrosion of structural alloys in molten salt environments, the system having a vessel defining a void containing the molten salt; a voltammetry sensor inserted into the molten salt; a first cathode inserted into the molten salt; and a first anode inserted into the molten salt, whereby the cathode and anode are in electrical communication with an electrical power source.

A device and a method for preparing pure titanium by electrolysis-chlorination-electrolysis, wherein the device includes a first electrolytic cell, a second electrolytic cell, a chlorination reactor and guide tubes. The Cl.sub.2 generated at the anode of the first electrolytic cell is introduced into a chlorination reactor containing the TiC.sub.xO.sub.y or TiC.sub.xO.sub.yN.sub.z raw materials via a guide tube, and a chlorination is carried out to generate TiCl.sub.4 gas at a temperature of 200° C.-600° C. The TiCl.sub.4 gas passes through a guide tube into a cathode of the second electrolytic cell, and then an electrolysis is performed to obtain the high-purity titanium in the second electrolytic cell. At the same time, the Cl.sub.2 generated at the anode of the second electrolytic cell is recycled into the chlorination reactor in the first electrolytic cell to continue to participate in the chlorination of TiC.sub.xO.sub.y or TiC.sub.xO.sub.yN.sub.z.

A process for producing ammonia and an apparatus for producing ammonia are disclosed herein. The process includes: the electrolytic production of a metal at a cathode of an electrolysis cell, wherein the metal is selected from Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Al and/or alloys and/or mixtures thereof; production of a nitride of the metal M by reaction of the electrolytically produced metal with a gas including nitrogen; introduction of the nitride of the metal M into the electrolysis cell (e.g., into an anode chamber of the electrolysis cell); and reaction of the nitride of the metal M at an anode of the electrolysis cell to produce ammonia.

A process for producing ammonia and an apparatus for producing ammonia are disclosed herein. The process includes: the electrolytic production of a metal at a cathode of an electrolysis cell, wherein the metal is selected from Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Al and/or alloys and/or mixtures thereof; production of a nitride of the metal M by reaction of the electrolytically produced metal with a gas including nitrogen; introduction of the nitride of the metal M into the electrolysis cell (e.g., into an anode chamber of the electrolysis cell); and reaction of the nitride of the metal M at an anode of the electrolysis cell to produce ammonia.

The present disclosure is intended to provide an electrolyzer capable of selectively recovering lithium. The electrolyzer recovers lithium ions Li.sup.+ from a material M. The electrolyzer includes: a pair of electrodes; and a cation exchange membrane provided between the pair of electrodes and having a lithium ion conductivity. The cation exchange membrane allows, among cations contained in the material M, more lithium ions Li.sup.+ to pass therethrough than other cations Ca.sup.2+ and Na.sup.+. The electrolyzer is configured to apply a voltage between the pair of electrodes.

The present disclosure is intended to provide an electrolyzer capable of selectively recovering lithium. The electrolyzer recovers lithium ions Li.sup.+ from a material M. The electrolyzer includes: a pair of electrodes; and a cation exchange membrane provided between the pair of electrodes and having a lithium ion conductivity. The cation exchange membrane allows, among cations contained in the material M, more lithium ions Li.sup.+ to pass therethrough than other cations Ca.sup.2+ and Na.sup.+. The electrolyzer is configured to apply a voltage between the pair of electrodes.