Electrodeposition of Zinc from Zinc Oxide and Zinc Chloride in 1-Methylimidazolium Trifluoromethylsulfonate Ionic Liquid

— In this work, it found that zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc chloride (ZnCl 2 ) can be dissolved well in 1-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate (MIMTfO) ionic liquid with a high concentration (1.5 mol L −1 ). The electrochemical behavior of Zn(II) in MIMTfO ionic liquid containing ZnO or ZnCl 2 was investigated at 373 K. Cyclic voltammetry results indicated that the electrodeposition of zinc from both ZnO and ZnCl 2 is a one-step and two-electron reaction. Chronoamperometry studies revealed that the electrodeposition of zinc from both ZnO and ZnCl 2 is fit instantaneous nucleation, and the average values of the diffusion coefficient of Zn(II) were determined to be approximately 4.1 × 10 –8 cm 2 s –1 and 7.7 × 10 –9 cm 2 s –1 , respectively, at 373 K. The electrodeposition experiments were performed at 373 K and 383 K using potentiostatic electrolysis. The SEM images showed that dense and compact electrodeposits were obtained at 373 K in MIMTfO ionic liquid for both Zn(II) sources, and the EDS and XRD analysis confirmed that the obtained electrodeposits are metallic zinc.