Electrodeposition of Aluminum from AlCl3/Et3NHCl Ionic Liquids

Aluminum was successfully electrodeposited on Al electrodes from aluminum chloride (AlCl3)/triethylamine hydrochloride (Et3NHCl) ionic liquids by the constant potential electrolysis. Electrical conductivities of AlCl3/Et3NHCl ionic liquids were measured as a function of the temperature and composition. The nucleation processes and the influence of experimental conditions on the current efficiency and surface morphology of aluminum electrodeposits were studied on Al electrodes from 2:1 molar ratio AlCl3/Et3NHCl ionic liquid. The electrical conductivities of ionic liquids increased as the electrolyte temperature increased, following the Arrhenius behavior. Analyses of the chronoamperograms indicated that the deposition process of aluminum on Al substrates was controlled by instantaneous nucleation with diffusion-controlled growth. Constant potential deposition experiments showed that the electrodeposits obtained on Al electrodes were dense, continuous, and well adherent, and the current efficiency was 73% at −2.4 V(vs Pt) for 20 min electrolysis at room temperature. The purity of aluminum electrodeposits on Al electrodes was above 96% (w).