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 Au_1.2Zn_8.8 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 Au_1.2Zn_8.8, along with the Zn phase.