Effect of iron ions on corrosion of lithium in a thionyl chloride electrolyte

Effect of an electrolytic impurity of iron on the growth rate of the passiv ating layer on lithium is studied experimentally in an LiAlCl4 solution in thionyl chloride. Within the first 10 h of contact between the lithium elec trode and electrolyte, kinetic curves are described by equation which impli es mixed diffusion-kinetic control of corrosion. Introducing Fe3+ into elec trolyte increases both ionic and electronic constituents of conduction due to an increased charge carrier concentration within the passivating layer. The increase in the concentration of electronic charge carriers accelerates corrosion of lithium in iron-containing solutions of thionyl chloride.