Electrodeposition of ZnNi Alloys from Choline Chloride/Ethylene Glycol Deep Eutectic Solvent and Pure Ethylene Glycol for Corrosion Protection

Influence of Electrolyte Choice on Zinc Electrodeposition

Zinc electrodeposition serves as a crucial electrochemical process widely employed in various industries, particularly in automotive manufacturing, owing to its cost effectiveness compared to traditional methods. However, traditional zinc electrodeposition using aqueous solutions faces challenges related to toxicity and hydrogen gas generation. Non-aqueous electrolytes such as ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have gained attention, with choline-chloride-based DESs showing promise despite raising environmental concerns. In this study, zinc electrodeposition on mild steel was investigated using three distinct electrolytes: (i) halide-free aqueous solutions, (ii) chloride-based DES, and (iii) halide-free acetate-based organic solutions. The study examined the influence of deposition time on the growth of Zn on mild steel substrates from these electrolytes using physical characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that glycol + acetate-based non-aqueous organic solutions provide an eco-friendly alternative, exhibiting comparable efficiency, enhanced crystalline growth, and promising corrosion resistance. This research contributes valuable insights into the impact of electrolyte choice on zinc electrodeposition, offering a pathway towards more sustainable and efficient processes. Through a comprehensive comparison and analysis of these methods, it advances our understanding of the practical applications of zinc electrodeposition technology.

Choline chloride-ethylene glycol based deep-eutectic solvents as lixiviants for cobalt recovery from lithium-ion battery cathode materials: are these solvents really green in high-temperature processes?

Deep-eutectic solvents (DESs) are often considered to be safe, eco-friendly and non-toxic solvents. Due to these green credentials, they are increasingly being studied for application in metal recycling processes. One example is their use as lixiviants for the recovery of cobalt from lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂, LCO), which is a common cathode material in lithium-ion batteries. Here, leaching of cobalt is facilitated by reduction of cobalt(iii) to cobalt(ii) in the presence of a reducing agent. However, several recent publications report on the use of DESs as lixiviants at high temperatures (180 °C) without addition of a reducing agent. Typical DESs for these applications are based on mixtures of choline chloride and ethylene glycol (ChCl : EG). Unfortunately, these studies ignore the limited thermal stability of ChCl : EG at high temperatures, which limits the recyclability of this DES. In this work, the drawbacks of using ChCl : EG as the lixiviant in high-temperature ionometallurgical processes are demonstrated. Structural analysis confirmed that ChCl : EG is not stable at 180 °C, forming hazardous and toxic decomposition products such as trimethylamine and 2-chloroethanol. It was hypothesized that choline chloride reduces cobalt(iii) while simultaneously undergoing a radical β-hydrogen abstraction reaction, thereby decomposing to trimethylamine and other degradation products. The main conclusion is that this type of DES should not be used for high-temperature leaching processes due to their limited stability under such conditions.

A density functional theory based tight-binding study on the water effect on nanostructuring of choline chloride + ethylene glycol deep eutectic solvent

The effect of water on the properties of an archetypical type III deep eutectic solvent [choline chloride : ethyleneglycol (1:2)] is analyzed using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations in the 0 to 60 wt. % water content range. The properties of the mixed fluids are studied considering nanostructuring, intermolecular forces (hydrogen bonding), the energy of interactions, dynamic properties, and domain analysis. The reported results confirm that the change in the properties of the studied deep eutectic solvent is largely dependent on the amount of water. The competing effect of water molecules for the available hydrogen bonding sites determines the evolution of the properties upon water sorption. The main structural features of the considered deep eutectic were maintained even for large water contents; thus, its hydrophilicity could be used for tuning fluid physicochemical properties.

The role of deep eutectic solvents and carrageenan in synthesizing biocompatible anisotropic metal nanoparticles

Plasmonic metal nanoparticles are widely used for many applications due to their unique optical and chemical properties. Over the past decade, anisotropic metal nanoparticles have been explored for imaging, sensing, and diagnostic applications. The variations and flexibility of tuning the size and shape of the metal nanoparticles at the nanoscale made them promising candidates for biomedical applications such as therapeutics, diagnostics, and drug delivery. However, safety and risk assessment of the nanomaterials for clinical purposes are yet to be made owing to their cytotoxicity. The toxicity concern is primarily due to the conventional synthesis route that involves surfactants as a structure-directing agent and as a capping agent for nanoparticles. Wet chemical methods employ toxic auxiliary chemicals. However, the approach yields monodispersed nanoparticles, an essential criterion for their intended application and a limitation of the green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts. Several biocompatible counterparts such as polymers, lipids, and chitosan-based nanoparticles have been successfully used in the synthesis of safe nanomaterials, but there were issues regarding reproducibility and yield. Enzymatic degradation was one of the factors responsible for limiting the efficacy. Hence, it is necessary to develop a safer and nontoxic route towards synthesizing biocompatible nanomaterials while retaining morphology, high yield, and monodispersity. In this regard, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and carrageenan as capping agent for nanoparticles can ensure the safety. Carrageenan has the potential to act as antibacterial and antiviral agent, and adds enhanced stability to the nanoparticles. This leads to a multidimensional approach for utilizing safe nanomaterials for advanced biomedical and clinical applications.