Effects of additives on zinc electrodeposition from alkaline zincate solution

The effects of additives on the surface and cross-sectional morphologies of zinc deposits on iron substrate from alkalinezincate solution were characterized by scanning electron microscope(SEM).The cathodic reaction mechanisms under variousconcentrations of additives were investigated using cyclic voltammetry(CV)and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)techniques.It is found that with increasing the additive A content in the bath solution,the nucleation overpotential(NOP)value isobviously increased and the inhibition effect is strengthened.This may be mainly due to the adsorption of additive A on the cathodicelectrode surface,which can cover the active sites and block the discharge reduction.The results of EIS analysis indicate that therate-determining step of zinc electrodeposition process is changed from mixed control step into electrochemical reduction step in thepresence of additive A.However,any quantity of additive B has little effect on the NOP value and the inhibition effect is not obvious.Furthermore,addition of additive A and additive B at the same time displays the strongest inhibition effect and shows a strongsynergism because of their co-adsorption on the cathodic electrode surface.

Kinetics of Zn cathodic deposition in alkaline zincate solution

Kinetic parameters of the electrode reactions were measured by investigating steady-state current-potential behaviors. The Tafel slopes of cathodic and anodic processes are -0.113 8 V and -0.041 18 V, the anodic and cathodic apparent transfer coefficients are 0.519 3 and 1.435 2, respectively, and the stoichiometric number of rate-deterrnining step is 1. The theoretical kinetics equation of electrode reaction was deduced, from which the dynamic parameters can be calculated as follows： the cathodic and anodic Tafel slopes are -0.118 V and -0.039 4 V, respectively, consisting with the experimental values, Finally, the correctness of the mechanism was further demonstrated using apparent transfer coefficient according to the electrochemical dynamic equation of multi-electron reaction.

Mechanism of zinc electroplating in alkaline zincate solution

The cathodic deposition properties and mechanism of Zn in alkaline zincate solution were studied by electrochemical techniques. The results show that Zn2+ exists in the alkaline solution in the form of Zn(OH)42-. The apparent activation energy of the electrode reaction is 38.93 kJ/mol, which indicates that the discharge of Zn(OH)42- on cathode is controlled by electrochemical polarization, and accompanied by a preceding chemical reaction. The diffusion coefficient of Zn(OH)42- is 2.452×10-6 cm2/s. Zn(OH)2 is the species directly discharged on the cathode surface. Based on the above results the mechanism of zinc electroplating in alkaline zincate solution was put forward. The discharged species is Zn(OH)2 formed from the preceding chemical reaction, which becomes Zn(OH)ad when gaining one electron, and then gaining the second electron to become Zn. The first electron gaining step is rate determining one.

Effect of non-cyanide zincation process parameters on the microstructure of the zincation layer on A356 alloys

The effects of non-cyanide zincation process parameters on the microstructure of the zincation layer on A356 alloy were investigated by scanning electronic microscope.With the increasing of zincation time,the zinc grain size and the number density increase gradually,and the zinc grains adhere each other.The zinc grain obtained in the double-dipping process is finer,compacter and more homogeneous than that obtained in the single-dipping process.With the increasing of the zincation temperature,the morphology of zinc grains changes from spherical shape to flake-like shape.However,higher zincation temperature results in the flaking off of the zincation layer from the matrix.The optimized zincation temperature is 20-30 ℃.The quality of the zincation layer obtained in a low concentration,non-cyanide and multi-element zincation solutions is much better than these obtained in conventional high concentration zincation solution,dilute zincation solutions or a dilute zincation solution containing nickel.In addition,the matrix alloy and the pre-treatment also have significant influence on the morphology of the zincation layer.

Performance tests of multi-metal zincate solutions with zinc sulfate and zinc oxide

Morphology of zinc alloy layer,from zincate solution with zinc sulfate and zinc oxide respectively,together with the consequent deposit was observed with SEM and back scattering electron image.EDS was applied to analyze the components of zinc alloy layer and the interface of high-Si aluminum alloy substrate-zinc alloy-deposit.Besides,the surface morphology of the zincated aluminum alloy after immersing in 3.5% NaCl solution for 7 d,is observed and the corrosion rate was calculate.Finally,tension test is conducted to quantify the adhesion between high-Si aluminum cast substrate and the deposit.The results show that,the zinc oxide contained zincating solution with sodium potassium tartrate and sodium citrate is a better one in multi-metal zincating solutions.The zinc alloy layer from this one gets stable performance,perfect adhesion with deposit,and good corrosion resistance.

Electrochemical tests on zincating solution with zinc sulfate and zinc oxide

In order to find out a multi-metal zincate solution to get good micromorphology and fine adhesion of coatings, sulfate zincate and zinc oxide zincate with different chelating agents combinations, of which there are 8 solutions are designed. CHI630 electrochemical test system is applied to measure the φ—t curves of zincate process and Tafle curves of zincated plates in 3.5% NaCl medium. The analyzed results show that when molar ratio of sodium hydroxide to zinc ions is constant, the better chelating agents combination for multi-metal zincation solution is the combination of sodium potassium tartrate and sodium citrate in zinc oxide solution, from which zinc alloy is high in potential and perfect in corrosion resistance. After the second zincate immersion for 60s, the immersion potential is -1.606V(vs SCE). The corrosion current density is 6.612, J_ corr/(A·cm -2); and the corrosion potential is -1.381, φ_ corr(I=0)/V.

Ammonium Ion and Structural Water Co-Assisted Zn^(2+) Intercalation/De-Intercalation in NH_(4)V_(4)O_(10)∙0.28H_(2)O

Main observation and conclusion The cathode material plays a crucial role in the performances of aqueous zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs).Herein,we report an ammonium vanadate(NH_(4)V_(4)O_(10)∙0.28H_(2)O,NHVO)aqueous ZIB cathode material.The obtained NHVO microflowers manifest high discharge capacity(410 mA·h∙g^(-1) at 0.2 A∙g^(-1)).