Nanowires of Cu-Zn and Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys elaborated via electrodeposition in ionic liquid

The electrosynthesis of Cu-Zn, Al and Cu-Zn-Al nanowires from the 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquid was investigated. The anion of the metallic salts was the same as the solvent, i.e. bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. The electrodeposition mechanism of each individual metal is complicated and shows many cathodic stages. The arrangement of these different steps in the current density-potential curves of alloys leads to unexpected composition evolution of deposits versus potential. According to the applied polarisation, a wide range of alloy compositions can be obtained. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.