Electrodeposition of Silicon in Ionic Liquid of [bmpy]$Tf_2N$

Silicon is one of useful materials in various industry such as semiconductor, solar cell, and secondary battery. The metallic silicon produces generally melting process for ingot type or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for thin film type. However, these methods have disadvantages of high cost, complicated process, and consumption of much energy. Electrodeposition has been known as a powerful synthesis method for obtaining metallic species by relatively simple operation with current and voltage control. Unfortunately, the electrodeposition of the silicon is impossible in aqueous electrolyte solution due to its low oxidation-reduction equilibrium potential. Ionic liquids are simply defined as ionic melts with a melting point below $100^{\circ}C$. Characteristics of the ionic liquids are high ionic conductivities, low vapour pressures, chemical stability, and wide electrochemical windows. The ionic liquids enable the electrochemically active elements, such as silicon, titanium, and aluminum, to be reduced to their metallic states without vigorous hydrogen gas evolution. In this study, the electrodeposion of silicon has been investigated in ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylpyrolidinium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide ([bmpy]$Tf_2N$) saturated with $SiCl_4$ at room temperature. Also, the effect of electrode materials on the electrodeposition and morphological characteristics of the silicon electrodeposited were analyzed The silicon electrodeposited on gold substrate was composed of the metallic Si with single crystalline size between 100~200nm. The silicon content by XPS analysis was detected in 31.3 wt% and the others were oxygen, gold, and carbon. The oxygen was detected much in edge area of th electrode due to $SiO_2$ from a partial oxidation of the metallic Si.