Electrodeposition of nanocrystalline aluminium from a chloroaluminate ionic liquid

In this letter we show that nanocrystalline aluminium can be electrodeposited in the Lewis acidic ionic liquid based on AlCl3 (60 mol%) and 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([MoeMIm]Cl) (40 mol%). The study comprised cyclic voltammetry, potentiostatic polarization, and SEM and XRD measurements. The methoxy group in the side chain of the imidazolium cation significantly influences the electrodeposition pathway of Al in comparison to [EMIm]Cl/AlCl3. Cyclic voltammetry shows a significant current loop attributed to nucleation. Shiny Al layers are obtained with an average crystallite size of about 40 nm.