Hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene-modified PbO2: ex situ observations of morphology during nucleation and growth via atomic force microscopy

Abstract

Abstract Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was utilized ex situ to monitor the morphology of hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) modified PbO 2 during electrodeposition in 1 M Pb(NO 3 ) 2 solution (pH 3) mixed with selected ratios (by volume) of a PTFE suspension solution. The nucleation rate and the growth rate of electrodeposited PbO 2 were greater and smaller respectively in the presence of suspended PTFE particles than in the absence of PTFE. The nucleation rate also increased but the growth rate decreased for the electrodeposited PbO 2 with the increase in volume ratio of PTFE suspension solution that was added into the electrodeposition bath. Additionally, smoother and denser deposits were observed via ex situ AFM for PTFEPbO 2 than for PbO 2 . The distinct nuclei which were believed to be coagulated PTFE particles with their adsorbed Pb(II) ionic cloud were indicated from the experimental results to be present simultaneously with normal nuclei, possibly nucleated from Pb(II) species in the presence of PTFE particles.