Electrodeposition of zinc-manganese alloy coatings from ionic liquid electrolytes

Electrodeposited zinc-manganese alloys have been found to have potentially attractive corrosion resisting characteristics for ferrous substrates. However, researchers have found their formation problematic from aqueous electrolytes, due particularly to the reactive nature of manganese and its low reduction potentials. The present investigations examine the possibility of electrodepositing this alloy utilising an ionic liquid electrolyte. In this manner electrolytes based upon manganese and zinc chlorides and boric acid were made by dissolution in a 2:1 molar ratio urea: choline chloride solvent. Physical measurements of electrolyte characteristics as well as pertinent electrochemical information on alloy electrodeposition were obtained to examine the efficacy of this metal/electrolyte combination.