Electrodeposition of Gallium from Alkaline Solution

Electrochemical polarization experiments were carried out on liquid and solid Gallium electrodes in alkaline gallate solution. The cathodic polarization curves for the electrodeposition of gallium exhibited a Tafel line with, a slope of 0.16V/decade in a limited range of current densities, and was slightly dependent on the phase change of the electrode. The exchange current densities were of the order of 10-1∼100A m-2, depending on the concentration. No dramatic changes in the kinetics were observed with phase change. The electrodeposition of Gallium from alkaline gallate solution is probably controlled by the charge transfer step. The electrodeposits on the Pt and Fe electrodes were pure Gallium, but those on the Ni and Cu electrodes were found to be Ga36Ni64, (GaNi2) and CuGa2 respectively. 100% current efficiency was obtained at an intermediate current density.