Abstract
The effects of gravity on nickel electrodeposition, the morphology and mechanical properties of deposits were studied in a super gravity field. Predictions in a microgravity field were also presented based on the obtained experimental tendency. Linear sweep voltammetry reveals that the nickel electrodeposition process is enhanced by increasing the gravity coefficient (G). The limiting current density changes from 10.2 to 293.0 mA·cm−2 with the increase of the G value from 10−4 to 354. The morphology of deposits was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The images show that the morphology deposited in the super gravity field has finer grain sizes and denser and smoother surfaces. The roughness reduces from 48.3 to 4.9 nm with the increase of the G value from 10−4 to 354. Meanwhile, mechanical tests indicate that the mechanical properties of nickel foils are greatly improved due to introducing a super gravity field during electrodeposition.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
S. Spiering, A. Eicke, D. Hariskos, et al., Large-area Cd-free CIGS solar modules with In2S3 buffer layer deposited by ALCVD, Thin Solid Films, 451–452(2004), No.2, p.562.
N.D. Nikolic, K.I. Popov, L.J. Pavolvic, et al., Morphologies of copper deposits obtained by the electrodeposition at high overpotentials, Surf. Coat. Technol., 201(2006), p.560.
A. Ciszewski, S. Posluszny, G. Milczarek, et al., Effects of saccharin and quaternary ammonium chlorides on the electrodeposition of nickel from a Watts-type electrolyte, Surf. Coat. Technol., 183(2004), p.127.
P. Mandin, C. Fabian, and D. Lincot, Mean and unsteady hydrodynamic and mass transport properties at a rotating cylinder electrode: From laminar to transitional flow regime, J. Electranal. Chem., 586(2006), No.2, p.276.
G. Marshall, E. Mocskos, G. Gonzalez, et al., Stable, quasi-stable and unstable physicochemical hydrodynamic flows in thin-layer cell electrodeposition, Electrochim. Acta, 51(2006), p.3058.
S. Verma and P.J. Shlichta, Imaging techniques for mapping solution parameters growth rate, and surface features during the growth of crystals from solution, Prog. Cryst. Growth Charact. Mater., 54(2008), p.1.
H.Q. Xing, Z.C. Guo, Z. Wang, et al., Electrochemical behavior of aqueous electrochemical reactions in super gravity field, Chem. J. Chin. Univ., 28(2007), p.1765.
Z.C. Guo, Y.P. Gong, and W.C. Lu, Electrochemical studies of nickel deposition from aqueous solution in super-gravity field, Sci. China Ser. E, 50(2007), No.1, p.39.
T. Liu, Z.C. Guo, Z. Wang, et al., Structure and properties of electrochemically deposited nickel under high gravity field, Chin. J. Nonferrous Met., 18(2008), No.10, p.1858.
A. Murotani, M. Atobe, and T. Fuchigami, Electrochemical copolymerization of aromatic compounds in centrifugal fields, J. Electrochem. Soc., 152(2005), No.10, p.D161.
H. Tong, L.B. Kong, and C.M. Wang, Electroless deposition of Ag onto p-Si (100) surface under the condition of the centrifugal fields, Thin Solid Films, 496(2006), p.360.
M. Sato, Y. Oshikiri, A. Yamada, et al., Application of gravity electrode to the analysis of iron-pitting corrosion under vertical gravity field, Electrochim. Acta, 50(2005), p.4477.
W.C. Chen, Z.H. Mai, and K. Kato, Effect of microgravity on interface structural features in space crystal growth, Chin. Phys. Lett., 15(1998), No.8, p.613.
W.H. Jin, Z.H. Liu, and Z.L. Pan, Experiment on crystal growth in space, J. Inorg. Mater., 14(1999), No.2, p.218.
Q.X. Zhang, G.J. Jiang, W.L. Li, et al., Effects of different gravity on the microstructure of AIN-glass multiphase ceramics, J. Inorg. Mater., 16(2001), No.2, p.283.
M. Atobe, A. Murotani, S. Hitose, et al., Anodic polymerization of aromatic compounds in centrifugal fields, Electrochim. Acta, 50(2004), p.977.
M. Morisue, Y. Fukunaka, E. Kusaka, et al., Effect of gravitational strength on nucleation phenomena of electrodeposited copper onto a TiN substrate, J. Electranal. Chem., 559(2003), p.155.
P. Mandin, J.M. Cense, B. Georges, et al., Prediction of the electrodeposition process behavior with the gravity or acceleration value at continuous and discrete scale, Electrochim. Acta, 53(2007), p.233.
H. Song, O.J. Ilegbusi, and A.S. Jr, Effects of gravity on zeolite crystallization from solution, J. Cryst. Growth, 277(2005), p.623.
Z. Jia, C.S. Dai, and L. Chen, Electrochemistry Measurement Methods, Chemistry Industry Press, Beijing, 2006, p.125, 47.
Y. Oshikiri, M. Sato, A. Yamada, et al., Electrochemical reaction in a high gravity field parallel to electrode surface-analysis of electron transfer process by gravity electrode, Electrochemistry, 71(2003), No.3, p.154.
D. Fernández and J.M.D. Coey, Inhomogeneous electrodeposition of copper in a magnetic field, Electrochem. Commun., 11(2009), p.379.
Q.X. Zha, The Introduction of Dynamics of Electrode Process, Science Press, Beijing, 2002, p.82.
J. Hong, Crystal growth in high gravity, J. Cryst. Growth, 181(1997), p.459.
A. Bund and A. Ispas, Influence of a static magnetic field on nickel electrodeposition studied using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, atomic force microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry, J. Electroanal. Chem., 575(2005), No.2, p.221.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.50804043, 50674011) and the Major Programs on the Equipment Development of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.YZ0618).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, T., Guo, Zc., Wang, Z. et al. Effects of gravity on the electrodeposition and characterization of nickel foils. Int J Miner Metall Mater 18, 59–65 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-011-0400-6
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-011-0400-6