Project Title:

4.12-1583B

04.12-1583B
Project Title:4.12-1583B
Company:Eltron Research Inc
Aurora, IL 60505
Principal Investigator:Anthony F. Sammells

Abstract:

This program is directed towards electrochemically characterizing a unique high temperature
electrolytic cell which simultaneously generaltes oxygen gas and liquid lithium using
the simulated lunar silicate material diopside as a molten salt electrolyte into
which lithium and potassium ions have been intentionally added.  The electrolytic
cell utilizes the oxygen vacancy conducting solid electrolyte, yttria-stabilized
zirconia, to effectively separate the oxygen evolving and lithium reduction half-cell
reactions.  Liquid lithium would be continuously removed in the finally engineered
cell evolving out of this three phase program.  Lithium formed in this manner would,
on the Moon's surface, be an effective reductant for the direct thermochemical refining
of lunar ores to their metallic state with lithium simultaneously extracting oxygen
to form Li20.  This Li20 would again be reintroduced into the electrolytic cell to
complete the overall system cycle.