Oxygen-evolving SnO₂-based ceramic anodes in aluminium electrolysis

Abstract

This study deals with SnO₂-based ceramic anodes doped with Sb₂O₃ and CuO, aiming at contributing new data regarding their electrochemical behavior in cryolite melts. The performances of the anodes were evaluated by anodic polarization, cyclic voltammetry, and current efficiency and corrosion measurements. The investigation proves that the anodic process of SnO₂-based inert anodes occurs at a low overvoltage and the oxygen discharge takes place in one step with an exchange of two electrons. The current efficiency and corrosion were proved to be dependent on the electrolysis parameters and composition of electrolysis bath. For a long term electrolysis, the dissolution of the anode in the cryolite-alumina melt produced small aluminium contamination(ca. 0.2%, mass fraction).

Keywords

Inert anode / Aluminium electrolysis / Polarization / Voltammetry

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