Template-Assisted Electrodeposition of Fe-Ni-Co Nanowires: Effects of Electrolyte pH and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2017. Published by ECS. All rights reserved. The influence of pH and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) electrolyte composition on the potentiostatic, template-assisted electrodeposition of Fe-Ni-Co alloy nanowires into alumina nanoporous membranes with a large accompanying hydrogen side reaction is presented. Solid nanowires and tubular, composite tips were observed and the average alloy composition was characterized. The growth of nanowires was insensitive to SLS at pH values of 2.0, but was a strong function of SLS at a low pH of 0.5. Anomalous codeposition was evident and the Fe-rich alloy nanowires were independent of SLS concentration at pH values above 0.5. The change in deposition rate and alloy composition was attributed to changes in adsorbed species: metal ion intermediates, hydrogen ion, hydrogen gas bubbles and SLS.