Electrodeposition of some metals and their alloys using different deep eutectic solvents based on choline chloride

Abstract

Ionic liquids with discrete anions are deep eutectic solvents can be utilized for metals electroplating. In this investigation various types of deep eutectic solvents have been utilized such as Reline, Ethaline and Hybrid as solvents for the electrodeposition of Sn, Zn and Zn-Sn alloys. Ethaline and Reline displayed identical voltammetric profiles for the reduction of Zn+2 and Sn+2. Reline possess high viscosity which lead to decreasing the quality of electroplating, therefore the process needs higher temperature or longer electroplating time. The surface morphology and compositions have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). These techniques lead to detecting the metal alloy that have been added to the ionic liquids. Pure ionic liquids preparation was another aim of this investigation, which utilized as a standard scale for comparison with the metal based liquids. Analysis of cyclic voltammetry in all systems indicated differences in the reactivity and mobility of species in solution which affected the growth mechanism and resulted in changes in deposit morphology. Keywords