Electrochemical reaction of Zn(II)/Zn on glassy carbon electrode(GC) and Mg alloy substrates was investigated in the room-temperature ionic liquid, N-butyl-N-methyl-pyrrolidinium dicyanamide (BMP-DCA) containing ZnCl2 at 323 K. Amperometric titration experiments suggest that Zn(II) reacted with DCA anions forming [Zn(DCA)(3)](-) complex anion, which also could be reduced to Zn metal via a single-step electron transfer process. By chronoamperometric measurements, the electrodeposition of Zn on GC and Mg alloy substrates involved three-dimensional instantaneous nucleation under diffusion control at 323 K. The Zn deposits are also systematically characterized by the techniques of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Zn layer deposited at a lower current density on Mg alloy substrates was more compact and uniform when compared to that deposited at a higher current density: consequently, this coating revealed a protection capability for the Mg substrate against corrosion. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.