Electrodeposition of nickel in air- and water-stable 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dibutylphosphate ionic liquid

Abstract

Nickel coating was obtained by potentiostatic electrodeposition in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate ionic liquid without any additive. Further, cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests were used to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of Ni²⁺ in the ionic liquid, revealing that the electrodeposition of nickel in this ionic liquid is an irreversible process. It was revealed that the diffusion of Ni²⁺ is a rate-determining step in the electrodeposition process. Further, the influence of dissolved water and applied voltage on electrodeposition were also studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).