Disclosed is a method for activating a surface of metals, such as self-passivated metals, and of metal-oxide dissolution, effected using a fluoroanion-containing composition. Also disclosed is an electrochemical cell utilizing an aluminum-containing anode material and a fluoroanion-containing electrolyte, characterized by high efficiency, low corrosion, and optionally mechanical or electrochemical rechargeability. Also disclosed is a process for fusing (welding, soldering etc.) a self-passivated metal at relatively low temperature and ambient atmosphere, and a method for electrodepositing a metal on a self-passivated metal using metal-oxide source.

Electroplating of aluminum may be utilized to form electrodes for solar cells. In contrast to expensive silver electrodes, aluminum allows for reduced cell cost and addresses the problem of material scarcity. In contrast to copper electrodes which typically require barrier layers, aluminum allows for simplified cell structures and fabrication steps. In the solar cells, point contacts may be utilized in the backside electrodes for increased efficiency. Solar cells formed in accordance with the present disclosure enable large-scale and cost-effective deployment of solar photovoltaic systems.

An article is disclosed that includes a first substrate of a first metal or metal alloy. An aluminum alloy first layer on a surface of the first substrate includes is galvanically less noble than the first metal or metal alloy. The first layer can also include elements alloyed with or in solid solution with the aluminum alloy, or can include a two or more phase composition including a first phase of aluminum and a second phase of a solid lubricant.

Disclosed herein are methods of forming one or more transducer elements in a transducer region of a slider by electrodepositing one or more metal ions from an ionic liquid solvent, and related sliders.

The present invention discloses an electro-deposition process, an electro-deposition bath, and a method for preparing a rare earth permanent magnetic material through electro-deposition. The electro-deposition process is used for depositing a heavy rare earth element on the surface of a sintered R.sup.2-T-B type master alloy, and comprises Step 1: providing an electro-deposition bath, comprising a main salt containing the heavy rare earth element, an induction salt for inducing the heavy rare earth element to deposit, and an organic ionic liquid as the solvent, wherein the main salt is a tetrafluoroborate of the heavy rare earth element; and Step 2: electroplating the sintered R.sup.2-T-B type master alloy in the electro-deposition bath at a temperature of 0 to 200° C. The present invention has the following beneficial effects: deposition of the heavy rare earth element on the surface of the sintered R.sup.2-T-B type master alloy is rapid, so that the electro-deposition process time can be saved, and the production efficiency is improved. In addition, a higher plating thickness of up to 10 to 40 μm can be achieved.

The present disclosure generally relates to methods of electro-depositing a crystalline layer of pure aluminum onto the surface of an aluminum alloy article. The methods may include positioning the article and an electrode in an electro-deposition solution. The electro-deposition solution includes one or more of an aluminum halide, an organic chloride salt, an aluminum reducing agent, a solvent such as a nitrile compound, and an alkali metal halide. The solution is blanketed with an inert gas, agitated, and a crystalline layer of aluminum is deposited on the article by applying a bias voltage to the article and the electrode.

The present invention pertains to a composition comprising: (I) at least one ionic liquid of formula (1-a) or of formula (1-b): [RF-CFR′.sub.F-SO.sub.3].sup.− A.sup.+ (1-a) [(RF-CFR′F—SO.sub.2).sub.2N].sup.− (1-b) wherein: -R.sub.F is a C.sub.1-C.sub.25 fluoroalkyi group, optionally comprising one or more than one catenary ethereal oxygen atoms, -R′.sub.F is —F or a —CF.sub.3 group, and -A+ is an organic cation selected from the group consisting of tetraalkylammonium, pyridinium, imidazolium, piperidinium, pyrrolidinium, amidinium and guanidinium groups, and (II) at least one metal salt of formula (II): MeB, (H) wherein: -Me.sup.m+ is a metal cation deriving from a metal (Me) selected from the group consisting of groups IB, MB, IVB, VB, VIB, MIA, IVA and VIII (8, 9, 10) of the Periodic Table, preferably from the group consisting of groups IVB, VB, VIB and IMA of the Periodic Table, wherein m is the valence of said metal cation, and —B.sup.n− is an inorganic anion, wherein n is the valence of said inorganic anion. The present invention also pertains to the use of said composition in an electrodeposition process and to the metal-coated assembly thereby provided.

Ionic liquid bath plating methods for depositing aluminum-containing layers utilizing shaped consumable aluminum anodes are provided, as are turbomachine components having three dimensionally-tailored, aluminum-containing coatings produced from such aluminum-containing layers. In one embodiment, the ionic liquid bath plating method includes the step or process of obtaining a consumable aluminum anode including a workpiece-facing anode surface substantially conforming with the geometry of the non-planar workpiece surface. The workpiece-facing anode surface and the non-planar workpiece surface are positioned in an adjacent, non-contacting relationship, while the workpiece and the consumable aluminum anode are submerged in an ionic liquid aluminum plating bath. An electrical potential is then applied across the consumable aluminum anode and the workpiece to deposit an aluminum-containing layer onto the non-planar workpiece surface. In certain implementations, additional steps are then performed to convert or incorporate the aluminum-containing layer into a high temperature aluminum-containing coating, such as an aluminide coating.

Al—Mnx/Al—Mny multilayers with a wide range of structures ranging from microcrystalline to nanocrystalline and amorphous were electrodeposited using a single bath method under galvanostatic control from room temperature ionic liquid. By varying the Mn composition by −1-3 at. % between layers, the grain sizes in one material can be systematically modulated between two values. For example, one specimen alternates between grain sizes of about 21 and 52 nm, in an alloy of average composition of 10.3 at. % Mn. Nanoindentation testing revealed multilayers with finer grains and higher Mn content exhibited better resistance to plastic deformation. Other alloy systems also are expected to be electrodeposited under similar circumstances.

Provided herein is an electric Al—Zr—Mn alloy-plating bath which comprises (A) an aluminum halide; (B) one or at least two kinds of compounds selected from the group consisting of N-alkylpyridinium halides, N-alkylimidazolium halides, N,N′-dialkyl-imidazolium halides, N-alkyl-pyrazolium halides, N,N′-dialkyl-pyrazolium halides, N-alkylpyrrolidinium halides and N,N-dialkyl-pyrrolidinium halides; (C) a zirconium halide; and (D) a manganese halide, in which the molar ratio of the aluminum halide (A) to the compound (B) ranges from 1:1 to 3:1. The plating bath never involves any risk of causing an explosion and can provide a smooth and fine Al—Zr—Mn alloy-plated film. Moreover, the resulting film has high resistance to corrosion even when it does not contain any chromium and therefore, it is quite suitable from the viewpoint of the environmental protection and it can thus be used in a wide variety of applications including the plating of parts for motorcars, and the plating of parts for electrical appliances.