Methods and materials for electroplating aluminum in ionic liquids
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsLei Chen, Xiaomei Yu, William P. Fallon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of depositing aluminum onto a substrate is disclosed. In this method, the substrate is disposed as cathode in an electrochemical cell with an anode and a liquid electrodeposition composition comprising an ionic liquid and a source of aluminum, and aluminum is electroplated onto the substrate. Residual water content in the electroplating bath is controlled by exposure to light in the presence of a photo-oxidation catalyst to decompose the water or species associated with water.
Claims20
A method of depositing aluminum onto a substrate, comprising
- disposing a substrate as cathode and an anode in a electroplating bath that includes an ionic liquid and a source of aluminum;
- electroplating aluminum onto the substrate;
- and
- exposing the electroplating bath to light in the presence of a photo-oxidation catalyst to decompose water.
An aluminum electrodeposition composition, comprising an ionic liquid, an aluminum salt, and a photo-oxidation catalyst capable of promoting the decomposition of water.
An electrochemical cell for the electrodeposition of aluminum, comprising:
- a substrate as cathode for receiving the electrodeposition of aluminum;
- an anode;
- an electroplating bath comprising an ionic liquid and a source of aluminum in contact with the cathode substrate and the anode;
- a photo-oxidation catalyst capable of promoting the decomposition of water, in contact with the electroplating bath;
- and
- a light source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.