Surface Morphology of Metal Electrodeposits

Abstract

It is obvious from the above discussions that the formation of disperse deposits is required only in electrodeposition of metal powders. In this situation, the deposition must be under complete diffusion control. Other types of disperse deposits are undesired and their appearance can easily be avoided by decreasing the exchange current density of the deposition processes (by complexing depositing ions or by appropriate organic additives) and maintaining the deposition overpotential below the values of the critical overpotential for dendritic growth initiation. It seems that in the case of whiskers nothing can be said in advance about their appearance.