Electrodeposition of Zn–Sb Alloy Film from Ethylene Glycol Solvent

Abstract

The electrodeposition of Zn–Sb alloy from ethylene glycol (EG) solvent was investigated. ZnCl₂ and SbCl₃ or antimony potassium tartrate (APT) were used as zinc and antimony ion sources, respectively. The phases deposited from the EG-ZnCl₂–SbCl₃ (85.0:14.7:0.3 mol%) bath at 393 K were hcp Zn containing little amount of Sb or elemental Sb and it was difficult to control the composition of Zn–Sb alloy. In contrast, Zn–Sb alloys containing 2.0∼71.6 mol% Zn were obtained from the EG-ZnCl₂-APT (85.0:13.6:1.4 mol%) bath at the constant current densities of 50∼300 A m⁻² at 393 K. Amorphous-like Zn–Sb alloys having a composition near Zn₄Sb₃, which is expected as a thermoelectric material with a high figure of merit, were obtained by the electrodeposition at current densities of 150∼300 A m⁻² in this bath.