Self-Organization Process of Secondary Crystal Nodules from Individual Nuclei in Electrodeposition

Abstract

Using nonequilibrium fluctuations in electrodeposition, the self-organization process of secondary crystal nodules from individual nuclei was examined. As a result, it was concluded that electrodeposition can be described by two types of fluctuation, i.e., symmetrical and asymmetrical fluctuations; the former yields three-dimensional (3D) nuclei, whereas the latter yields two-dimensional (2D) nuclei that determine the spatial distribution of the 3D nuclei. The complex self-organization of these two types of nuclei leads to the aggregation of each 3D nucleus. In the present paper, first, the instability of these fluctuations was discussed. Then, it was shown that asymmetrical fluctuations control the total reaction rate, and lead to nucleation currents in silver nucleation. Finally, the crystal morphology yielded by the symmetrical and asymmetrical fluctuations was visualized by computer calculation, and the aggregation process of 3D nuclei to secondary nodules was examined.