Facile electrodeposition of nano-iron films from Fe2O3 in a choline chloride-based ionic liquid

Abstract

The electrodeposition of nano-iron films from Fe2O3 precursor in an ionic liquid composed of 33·3 mol-% choline chloride (ChCl) and 66·7 mol-% ethylene glycol (EG) has been investigated. The electrodeposition process was carried out at 1·5–1·9 V and 60–120°C for 3 hours. The influences of experimental parameters on the electrodeposition process and the morphology of the deposited nano-iron films were studied. The results show that compact and uniform nano-iron (particle size is approximately 100–200 nm) films can be electrodeposited in the Fe2O3-saturated ChCl-EG ionic liquid at 1·8–1·9 V and 60–120°C. The electrodeposition temperature and applied potential have significant influences on the characteristics of the deposited nano-iron films and the electrodeposition process. It is suggested that the controllable electrodeposition process can be used to prepare nano-iron films with various particle sizes from Fe2O3 in CHCl-EG eutectic melt.