Electrodeposition of Zinc from Binary ZnCl2-DMSO2 Molten Electrolyte at Room Temperature
The electrochemical behaviour of zinc on copper, platinum, and tungsten working electrodes was investigated in a binary ZnCl2-DMSO2 room temperature molten salt electrolyte in the temperature range of 60 - 80◦C. Various over-potentials, −0.1, −0.2, −0.3, −0.4, and −0.5 V, were chosen as deposition potentials. The nucleation/growth of zinc changed from progressive to instantaneous if the over-potentials increased from low to high level. The surface morphology and crystal structure of the deposited layer were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, larger grain size and hexagonal close packing of the zinc layer at −0.5 V were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with electron diffraction mapping.