Aluminum deposition room-temperature ionic liquids

The electrodeposition of silver from chloroaluminate ionic liquids has been studied by several authors [45-47], Katayama et al. [48] reported that the room-temperature ionic liquid l-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM]BF4) is applicable as an alternative electroplating bath for silver. The ionic liquid [EMIM]BF4 is superior to the chloroaluminate systems since the electrodeposition of silver can be performed without contamination of aluminum. Electrodeposition of silver in the ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM]BF4) and l-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumhexafluorophosphate was also reported [49], Recently we showed that isolated silver nanoparticles can be deposited on the surface of the ionic liquid Tbutyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([BMIMJTfO) by electrochemical reduction with free electrons from low-temperature plasma [50] (see Chapter 10). This unusual reaction represents a novel electrochemical process, leading to the reproducible growth of nanoscale materials. In our experience silver is quite easy to deposit in many air- and water-stable ionic liquids. 

Because of its high reactivity (—1.67 V vs. NHE), the electrodeposition of aluminum from aqueous solutions is not possible. Therefore, electrolytes for A1 deposition must be aprotic, such as ionic liquids or organic solvents. The electrodeposition of aluminum in organic solutions is commercially available (SIGAL-process [56, 57]) but due to volatility and flammability there are some safety issues. Therefore, the development of room-temperature ionic liquids in recent years has resulted in another potential approach for aluminum electrodeposition. Many papers have been published on the electrodeposition of aluminum from chloroaluminate (first... 

Between 1980 and about 2000 most of the studies on the electrodeposition in ionic liquids were performed in the first generation of ionic liquids, formerly called room-temperature molten salts or ambient temperature molten salts . These liquids are comparatively easy to synthesize from AICI3 and organic halides such as Tethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Aluminum can be quite easily be electrode-posited in these liquids as well as many relatively noble elements such as silver, copper, palladium and others. Furthermore, technically important alloys such as Al-Mg, Al-Cr and others can be made by electrochemical means. The major disadvantage of these liquids is their extreme sensitivity to moisture which requires handling under a controlled inert gas atmosphere. Furthermore, A1 is relatively noble so that silicon, tantalum, lithium and other reactive elements cannot be deposited without A1 codeposition. Section 4.1 gives an introduction to electrodeposition in these first generation ionic liquids. 

Organic solvents provide suitable potential windows for some important metals such as aluminum and lithium that cannot be deposited from aqueous electrolyte. Some metals are deposited from molten salts. The so-called room temperature molten salts or ionic liquids are a further group of solvents used to deposit metals like aluminum again that cannot be deposited from aqueous electrolytes. 

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