Developing aluminum molecular plating for neutron-induced reaction target fabrication

[Formula: see text]Al is an important radionuclide for research on stellar nucleosynthesis in the Galaxy and the environment of the early solar system. Computational simulations involving the production and destruction of [Formula: see text]Al in stellar nucleosynthesis and supernovae rely on accurate nuclear reaction network data. Some of the destruction channels via neutron-induced reactions for [Formula: see text]Al either have no measured data or discrepancies in the measured data. The Low Energy (n,Z) instrument at the Los Alamos National Laboratory can perform these measurements on neutron-induced charged-particle reactions; however, a thin and uniform target is required. Such a target can be manufactured via molecular plating, but this process needs to be optimized. This study was able to determine a procedure that allows for the production of an Al target on a 1 [Formula: see text]m thick Ti foil with a >70% yield. Adding a small amount of Ce in the initial plating solution and increasing the drying time resulted in a thin, uniform, and physically stable Al target.