Electrodeposition of tin and antimony in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid

The electrodepositions of Sn(II) and Sb(III) were studied in the [EMIm]BF4 ionic liquid at ambient temperature. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) results indicated that the reductions of Sn(II) and Sb(III) on Pt electrode are electrochemically irreversible. The diffusion coefficients of Sn(II) and Sb(III) in the ionic liquid electrolyte were determined in terms of the LSV data. Tin and antimony ions form simpler Sn(II) chlorocomplex species and higher Sb(III) chlorocomplexes, respectively present in the ionic liquid electrolyte. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis revealed that tin and antimony alloys can be electroplated in the ionic liquid electrolyte.