Controllable Production of Ag/Zn and Ag Particles from Hydrometallurgical Zinc Solutions

Ag/Zn and Ag particles have been successfully produced from electrolytes simulating zinc process solutions containing a high concentration (65 g/L) negligible silver (0.5–50 ppm) using facile sustainable electrodeposition-redox replacement (EDRR) method. Results show that the particle size chemical composition of deposited can be readily controlled by varying operating parameters such as time agitation. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) studies supported with SEM-EDS TEM results indicate EDRR consists three regions: (I) pulse deposition; (II) redox between Ag+ ions Zn, formation Zn/Ag alloy structure, competing Zn oxidation H+ ions; (III) further (alloy) formed in previous stage possible reduction hydrogen. The has higher potential which hinders sequentially improves utilization efficiency sacrificial metal (Zn). Furthermore, method, could obtained an extremely low 0.5 ppm. promising demonstrate feasibility producing Ag-based functional materials utilizing trace amounts solutions.