Electrodeposition of nickel in air- and water-stable 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dibutylphosphate ionic liquid.

Nickel coating was obtained by potentiostatic electrodeposition in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate ionic liquid without any additive. Further, cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests were used to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of Ni in the ionic liquid, revealing that the electrodeposition of nickel in this ionic liquid is an irreversible process. It was revealed that the diffusion of Ni is a rate-determining step in the electrodeposition process. Further, the influence of dissolved water and applied voltage on electrodeposition were also studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).