Fractal growth and oscillations during electrochemical deposition in Pb-Zn binary system

Abstract

Experimental studies of electrochemical deposition of Pb, Zn and binary system containing Pb and Zn with two parallel electrodes and a circular anode-point cathode are reported. Growth kinetics data for different electrode systems are compared. The data obey the simple empirical equation <i>d=ct^m </i>for point cathode and circular anode where d is the radius of the circular envelope grown in time t and m and log c are slope and intercept respectively. Scanned pictures of electrodeposits have been characterised in terms of fractal dimension

by box counting method. Cathode potential changes with time have been monitored during the process of electrodeposition and dissolution. Fluctuations in conductance are also observed at the surface of cathode during the process of electrodeposition. Next amplitude plots (A_t vs A_t+10) indicate that oscillations are periodic in the binary system while for pure Pb and Zn it is like random noise.