Methods for electrometallizating rare earth elements using anhydrous electrolytes comprising one or more silylamide compounds

A method for electrometallizing at least one rare earth element, comprising:

• combining a rare earth element-containing compound comprising at least one rare earth element with a silylamide-containing anhydrous electrolyte comprising at least one silylamide compound to form a complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte comprising at least one silylamide-rare earth element complex;
• providing an electrochemical cell comprising the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte, at least one cathode disposed in the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte, and at least one anode disposed in the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte;
• applying an electrical potential across the at least one cathode and the at least one anode of the electrochemical cell;
• collecting a deposit comprising the at least one rare earth element on the at least one cathode of the electrochemical cell;
• and
• recovering the at least one rare earth element from the collected deposit,
• wherein the at least one silylamide compound has the following chemical formula:
• wherein:
• A comprises at least one of lithium, sodium, potassium, or calcium;
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 each independently comprises hydrogen, a C1-C6 alkyl group, or a combination thereof;
• and
• X is 1 or 2.

A system for electrometallizing one or more rare earth elements, the system comprising:

• a container configured to contain a complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte therein, the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte comprising at least one silylamide-rare earth element complex;
• an electrodeposition reservoir configured to receive an amount of the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte from the container, the electrodeposition reservoir including:
• a reservoir inlet configured to facilitate an addition of the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte into the electrodeposition reservoir;
• and
• a reservoir outlet configured to facilitate a removal of a spent complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte from the electrodeposition reservoir, the spent complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte exhibiting a lower amount of the at least one silylamide-rare earth element complex compared to the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte;
• at least one counter-electrode and at least one working electrode disposed below a surface of the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte in the electrodeposition reservoir,
• the at least one counter-electrode configured to release electrons to the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte upon an application of an electrical potential across the at least one counter-electrode and at least one working electrode, and
• the at least one working electrode configured to receive a deposit of the at least one rare earth element from a reduction of the complex-containing anhydrous electrolyte upon the application of the electrical potential across the at least one counter-electrode and the at least one working electrode;
• and
• a potential source configurated to apply the electrical potential across the at least one counter-electrode and the at least one working electrode.