Electrodeposition of Zn and Au–Zn alloys at low temperature in an ionic liquid

Abstract

In this communication, electrodeposition of Zn from 60–40 mol% ZnCl2–1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIC) ionic liquid on Au substrates has been investigated. For the first time, initial stages of Zn electrocrystallization from BMIC has been studied by in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) employing synchrotron radiation, which showed an initial epitaxial deposition of Zn and hexagonal Au1.2Zn8.8 phases on Au(111) single crystal substrates. In the later stages of electrodeposition, phase analysis showed a formation of several Zn–Au intermetallics, namely AuZn, AuZn3, and Au1.2Zn8.8, along with the Zn phase.