Electrodeposition of distinct one-dimensional Zn biaxial microbelt from the zinc chloride-1-ethyl-3-methylidazolium chloride ionic liquid

The application of ionic liquids as versatile media for electrochemical preparation of one-dimensional metal structures is demonstrated by the electrocrystallization of non-tangled, straight Zn biaxial microbelt without using any template from a Lewis acidic chlorozincate ionic liquid containing 36.0-64.0 mol Zinc Chloride-1-Ethyl-3-methylidazolium Chloride at 110C. Each Zn biaxial microbelt has the morphology similar to that formed by folding a ∼100 nm thick straight ribbon along its central axis to produce a unique V shaped cross-sectional view that has not been observed for Zn wires prepared electrochemically in other media.