The Effect of Additives on the Fabrication of Electroplated Bright Aluminum Films using AlCl₃-1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride-Toluene Baths

Abstract

The effect of addtives, such as pyridine-4-carbohydrazide (P4CH) and 1,10-phenanthroline (PH), on the electrodeposition efficiency and brightness of aluminum (Al) prepared by a constant-current deposition from baths of aluminum chloride (AlCl₃)-1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIC)-toluene was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an atomic force microscope (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). P4CH achieved higher surface brightness of the electrodeposited Al than one of the Al film prepared with PH as an additive. The relationship between surface brightness and surface roughness could be confirmed with the prepared Al films. P4CH strongly adsorbs onto the deposited Al surface than PH, as the result, smooth Al surface was formed under the influence of adsorbed P4CH on deposited Al surfaces in AlCl₃-EMIC-toluene-P4CH.