Direct Electrochemical Deposition of Lithium from Lithium Oxide in a Highly Stable Aluminium-Containing Solvate Ionic Liquid

Low-temperature electrochemical extraction of active metals from their corresponding chlorides in ionic liquids has long been a scientific challenge, while extraction from oxides is even more difficult. Inspired by previous reports of the electrochemical deposition of various non-active metals from their corresponding oxides in diverse ionic liquids, we demonstrate the successful electrodeposition of active Li on high-purity Al-plate substrates at relatively low temperature (353 K), as confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, Al−Li alloy nanosheets can also be obtained on the Al surface by solid-state cathode alloying. The Li source was Li 2 O, which was dissolved in a highly stable Al-containing solvate ionic liquid. The dissolution mechanism and electrodeposition behaviour of Li 2 O were investigated using multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, theoretical calculations, and electrochemical techniques. The findings are expected to provide a theoretical basis and method for low-temperature electrochemical extraction of active metals from their oxides. Graphical Active metal extraction : Li 2 O is employed as the precursor for Li extraction and dissolved in an electrochemically stabilized Al-containing solvate ionic liquid. Direct electrochemical deposition of Li from Li 2 O is achieved at a relatively low temperature. Al−Li alloy nanosheets can also be obtained on the Al surface. The dissolution mechanism provides guidance for identifying species with stronger Lewis acidity to combine with other active metal oxides.