Electrodeposition of an iron thin film with compact and smooth morphology using an ethereal electrolyte
Zelei Zhang, Atsushi Kitada, Kazuhiro Fukami, Zhengjun Yao, Kuniaki Murase
Abstract
Electrodeposition of iron (Fe) from an ethereal solution was investigated. The bath consisted of ferrous chloride (FeCl2), diglyme (G2), and aluminum chloride (AlCl3), in which iron species were estimated to be [Fe(G2)2]2+ complex cations. The effect of hydrogen gas evolution on the morphology of iron deposits was determined by comparing common aqueous electrolytes. An Fe thin film was fabricated using the FeCl2–G2–AlCl3 bath without the influence of hydrogen gas evolution, and the nucleation of Fe was explained by an instantaneous nucleation mechanism. As a result, the surface morphology of the Fe thin film was compact and smooth compared with the cases of aqueous and other nonaqueous electrolytes.