Electrodeposition of carbon films from molten alkaline fluoride media

Abstract The electrodeposition of carbon films from carbonate ions (CO 3 2− ) in molten alkaline fluorides (LiF/NaF) was investigated in the 700–800 °C temperature range using cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. The cathodic peak in the cyclic voltammogram indicates that CO 3 2− ions are reduced in a one-step process: CO 3 2− +4e − →C+3O 2− . Deposits of amorphous carbon were obtained by potentiostatic electrolysis and analysed by several physical techniques: X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy.