AlCl3/amide ionic liquids for electrodeposition of aluminum

AlCl 3 /amide (acetamide, propionamide, butyramide) ionic liquids were used as the electrolytes to study the electrodeposition behavior of aluminum on a tungsten electrode. Cyclic voltammograms on the tungsten electrode indicate that Al(III) ions can be reduced to aluminum only within the molar ratio range of 1.1 to 1.5 and the reduction potentials of Al(III) ions strongly depend on the molar ratio of AlCl 3 /amide. Raman spectra results reveal that the electroactive specie of AlCl 3 /amide ionic liquids is Al 2 Cl 7 − . Aluminum coatings were prepared at −0.25 V (vs. Al/Al 3+ ) and at 313 K in AlCl 3 /amide ionic liquids with the molar ratio of 1.3. The SEM and cross-sectional SEM images show that all the obtained aluminum films are silver-colored, thick, and adherent. The EDS and XRD analysis confirm that the obtained deposits are pure aluminum. The present results can provide a new route for aluminum electrodeposition under ambient conditions.