Wettable TiB2 Cathode for Aluminum Electrolysis: A Review

Abstract Titanium diboride (TiB2) is considered a promising material for wettable cathodes in aluminum electrolysis. The demand for wettable cathodes is associated with the development of inert anode technologies to eliminate CO2 emissions caused by the conventional aluminum reduction process. Titanium diboride has been given special attention due to its superior properties, such as high wettability, good electrical conductivity, wear resistance, and excellent chemical stability. In this paper, we discuss different synthesis techniques used for the preparation of TiB2 cathode material. The main methods are sintering, electrodeposition, and plasma spraying. Electrodeposition is considered to be the most reliable low-cost method for TiB2 preparation. The vertical anode–cathode distance can be reduced by introducing wetted TiB2 cathodes, through which specific energy consumption can be reduced significantly. For a longer lifetime, the TiB2 cathodes should be resistant to electrolyte penetration. Further research should be conducted to understand the electrochemical behavior of TiB2 in low-temperature electrolytes. Graphical Abstract