To solve the inherent disadvantages in conventional processes for electrodeposition of zinc, it＇s necessary to develop more high-efficiency and environmentally friendly electrolytes. In this work, it was found that the dissolution of ZnO was remarka- bly enhanced in some imidazolium chloride by the addition of urea, and the solubility of ZnO in 1：1 [Amim]C1/urea mixture was as high as 8.35 wt% at 373.2 K. Electrochemical measurements showed that zinc could be readily electrodeposited from the solutions of ZnO. Bright, dense and well adherent zinc coatings with good purity were obtained from 0.6 M solution of ZnO in 1：1 [Amim]C1/urea at 323.2-343.2 K. It＇s expected that the solutions of ZnO in imidazolium chloride/urea mixtures have the potential to replace the traditional electrolytes, especially toxic zinc chloride-based ones for zinc electroplating, as well as preparation of zinc materials.
Lewis acidic 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloroaluminate ionic liquids were used as promising elec-trolytes in the low-temperature electrodeposition of aluminium.Systematic studies on deposition process have been performed by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry.The surface morphology and X-ray diffraction(XRD) patterns of deposits prepared at different experimental conditions were also investigated.It was shown that the nu-cleation density and growth rate of crystallites had a great effect on the structure of aluminium deposited.The crys-tallographic orientation of deposits was mainly influenced by temperature and current density.Smooth,dense and well adherent aluminium coatings were obtained on copper substrates at 10-25 mA?cm?2 and 313.2-353.2 K.More-over,the current efficiency of deposition and purity of aluminium have been significantly improved,demonstrating that the ionic liquids tested have a prospectful potential in electroplating and electrorefining of aluminium.
