Anodic Electrodeposition of Gold from Liquid Ammonia Solutions

Abstract

The electroplat ing of metal and al loys, which is of importance in numerous applicat ions, has always been accomplished by cathodic deposition ( I -3) . For example the indust r i a l l y important process of gold electroplating is usually carried out by reduction of the gold(1) species from s l igh t l y acidic cyanide media. We report here the f i r s t example of anodic electrodeposition of gold by oxidation o faur ide ion (Au-) in a l iqu id ammonia solution. Recent results have demonstrated the formation of Auby reaction of gold metal with coulometrically generated solvated electrons (es) in l iqu id NH 3 containing 0.I