Self-Organized Hexagonal Nanostructures on Nickel and Steel Formed by Anodization in 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(triflate)imide Ionic Liquid

Abstract

The formation of ordered hexagonal nanostructures with the size of 50–120 nm at the electrode surface has been studied in the course of electrochemical polishing of nickel and steel in the hydrophobic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(triflate)imide. Optimal conditions favorable for the formation of such ordered structures have been revealed under the galvanostatic regime (I = 8 mA·cm–2; t = 10 min) and potentiostatic mode of operation (E = 3.0–3.2 V; t = 40 min). A theoretical background behind the generation of the hexagonal nanostructures has been proposed.