Formation and coalescence of epitaxial crystallites in nickel electrodepositon in air and argon atmospheres

The initial stages of epitaxial electrocrystallization of nickel on cube textured copper substrates were investigated in air and in argon atmospheres. The effects of additions of saccharin and phenosafranine to the electrolyte were also studied. The deposition potential was monitored during deposition and afterwards the structures of the deposits were determined by transmission electron microscopy. The initial electrocrystallization was under all conditions the formation of three dimensional epitaxial crystallites (TEC) having a lateral size of 5 to 8 nm. Three dimensional epitaxial crystallites (TEC) formed even when all preplating and plating solutions were purged of oxygen by argon bubbling and when deposition occurred under an argon atmosphere. Results indicate that TEC formation is not due to oxides on the substrate. Other significant results are reported.