Facile Electrodeposition of Iron Films from NaFeO2 and Fe2O3 in Alkaline Solutions

Abstract

Iron films have been electrodeposited in NaOH solution from NaFeO2 and Fe2O3, respectively. The electrochemical process was carried out in 20−50 wt% NaOH solution at 25−80°C and 1.8 V. The reaction mechanisms and the influences of the electrodeposition parameters on the characteristics of the iron films were investigated. The results show that the electrodeposition process mainly involves a dissolution-redeposition mechanism. Compact and uniform iron (particle size is approximately 100−300 nm) films can be obtained from NaFeO2 in 30−50 wt% NaOH solution at room temperature, and the similar iron films can be electrodeposited from Fe2O3 in 50 wt% NaOH solution at approximately 60°C. The deposited iron films typically exhibit improved corrosion resistance and can be controlled to form multiscale nanostructures, which depend strongly on the electrodeposition conditions. It is suggested that NaFeO2 is a new promising precursor for the facile and controllable electrodeposition of iron film in NaOH solution at room temperature.