Electrochemical Synthesis of Superconductive Boride MgB2 from Molten Salts

Electrolysis has been performed on a fused mixture of magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and magnesium borate at 600 oC under an Ar atmosphere using a graphite anode and a Pt cathode. Magnetic measurements and X-ray diffractometry have revealed that the resultant deposit on the cathode contains a few tens molar percent of MgB2. A voltanmetric measurement at the initial stage of electrolysis has shown that the threshold cathode voltage for the formation of MgB2 from the molten salts is -1.6 V.