Electrochemical synthesis of Nb5Si3 intermetallic compound from molten calcium chloride salt

Nb5Si3 intermetallic compound was directly synthesized via an electrodeoxidation process from molten CaCl2 electrolyte. The reaction mechanism was studied by performing a series of quenching investigations, which suggested that the formation of a series of sub oxides and compounds containing calcium and oxygen preceded the formation of Nb5Si3. While Nb2O5 was gradually reduced to its sub oxides, (Nb2O5/NbO2/NbO/Nb), SiO2, on the other hand, got directly reduced to silicon and reacted with Nb to form Nb5Si3.