Aluminum-electrocrystallization from metal-organic electrolytes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0013-4686(89)87160-9

Aluminum electrodeposition from aprotic solutions of the organic complex KF·2Al(C₂H₅)₃ on polycrystalline aluminum and vitreous carbon is described for potentiostatic and voltage pulse conditions. Near the equilibrium of the aluminum electrode, below currents of about -3 mA cm^-2, electron transfer controls the deposition rate. Stationary polarizations over -0.1 V generate a material transport limitation which was controlled and eliminated by the rotating disk electrode technique. Extending the overvoltage to -0.1 to -0.3 V a slow chemical process characterized by a reaction current of ca -5 mA cm^-2 precedes charge transfer. Above -0.3 and -0.7 V two further deposition mechanisms possibly involving slow chemical and crystallization steps were observed.