Alloy formation by mg under-potential deposition on al from nitrate melts

Magnesium was underpotentially deposited on aluminium electrodes from magnesium nitrate-ammonium nitrate melts at temperatures ranging from 390 to 500 K. The electrochemical techniques used were linear sweep voltammetry and potential step. Electrodes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that reduction processes of nitrate, nitrite and water (when present), in the underpotential range studied, took part simultaneously with magnesium underpotential deposition. Consequently, magnesium UPD reduction and stripping voltammetry peaks were not pronounced and well defined. Nevertheless, EDS, EDX and XRD measurements showed evidence of Mg2Al3, MgAl2 and Al12Mg17 alloys formed by underpotential deposition of magnesium onto aluminium substrate