Influence of bath temperature and pH on the structure of electrodeposited cobalt nanowires

Abstract

Abstract To fully understand the mechanism of forming fcc Co in electrodeposition, the effect of bath temperature and pH on the structure of electrodeposited Co nanowires is studied by means of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. At −3.0 V and pH 2.5, the fraction of fcc Co decreases with increasing temperature, ranging from 1 (25 °C, pure fcc Co) to 0 (45 °C, pure hcp Co). The formation of hcp Co can be attributed to larger critical clusters formed at higher temperatures. The pH value has no appreciable effect on the formation of fcc Co nanowires. This is because the H adatoms produced at the cathodic surface can penetrate quickly through the thin Au film and desorb into air.