Conditions for the Electrochemical Synthesis of the CoPn[sub 3] (Pn=P, As, Sb) Skutterudites

The binary pnictide skutterudites, have been successfully synthesized for the first time by molten salt electrolysis. The melt for depositing contained CoO and and graphite rods were used for both anode and cathode. All experiments were run in a flowing gas atmosphere. By adjusting the melt composition, single phase could be prepared. Attempts were also made to deposit using platinum and silver strip electrodes. Although powder was obtained in the crucible, no deposit was found on the Pt cathode, which was attacked by the phosphorus present in the melt and produced platinum phosphide A low deposition rate was observed for Ag cathodes, and as a result, a very small amount of material was deposited. This made it difficult to determine the type and number of phases formed. Using graphite electrodes, two other cobalt skutterudites were prepared. was synthesized from a melt and from a melt. While the skutterudite phases were formed in these systems, the optimal melt compositions and other experimental conditions necessary to prepare single phase deposits still need to be determined. © 2001 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.