Electrodeposition and superconductivity of rhenium-iron alloy films from water-in-salt electrolytes

Electrochemical deposition of rhenium-iron alloy from water-in-salt electrolytes containing a super-high concentration of lithium chloride is investigated. Different techniques, including cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscope, X-Ray diffraction, and electrical measurements at cryogenic temperature are used to characterize the alloy electrochemical system and the deposited films. The catalytic effect of iron on rhenium deposition is observed, where the deposition rate of rhenium significantly increases in the presence of iron. Alloying rhenium with iron significantly inhibits the recrystallization of the as-deposited amorphous films. At the same time, it also greatly suppresses the superconductivity of rhenium.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.