Aluminium/zirconium alloys obtained by Al underpotential deposition onto Zr from low temperature AlCl3+NaCl molten salts

Abstract

Contrary to the widely accepted hypothesis that it is not possible, aluminium underpotential deposition (UPD) onto zirconium from a low temperature (200, 250 and 300?C) equimolar chloroaluminate melt was recorded. Furthermore, it was shown that aluminium UPD facilitates alloy formation between the deposited aluminium monolayer and the zirconium substrate by interdiffusion. The aluminium/zirconium alloys formed at the temperatures substantially lower than those needed for thermal preparation of the same alloys were: Al3Zr2 and Al3Zr. Experimental techniques used were linear sweep voltammetry, potential step, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used for characterization of obtained electrode surfaces.