Effect of a high magnetic field on aluminum electrodeposition using an ionic liquid

Abstract Aluminum electrodeposition on a copper substrate in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [EMIC]-AlCl3, a room temperature ionic liquid, is carried out in a superconducting magnet up to 5 Tesla (T). Linear sweep voltammetry shows an increase in the deposition current, which is explained by the mass transport of reactants enhanced by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) convection. The application of the magnetic field initiates the formation of nanocrystalline aluminum so that the brightness of the coating is improved. The preferential (2 0 0) orientation is suppressed by increasing the magnetic field intensity, which leads to random orientation in a high magnetic field, corresponding to the formation of fine grains.