Aluminum electrodeposition using AlCl3/urea ionic liquid

Abstract

Aluminum electrodeposition using AlCl3/urea ionic liquid was studied at 333 K. Raman spectra and cyclic voltammetry results show that aluminum can be electrodeposited from such ionic liquids having AlCl3:urea molar ratios above 1.2. Moreover, the molar ratio of the ionic liquid has an obvious effect on the aluminum species and electrochemical behavior of Al(III). Potentiostatic electrolysis experiments were conducted on the ionic liquid to prepare metallic coatings, and the obtained coatings were characterized using scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) techniques. SEM analysis shows that needle-like and cauliflower-like coatings, characterized to be metallic aluminum by the EDS and XRD, were obtained at 313 and 333 K, respectively. This method can provide a new and inexpensive candidate medium for aluminum recycling at room temperature.