Application of voltammetry to copper electrodeposition

<p>"A study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of using voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy techniques to characterize copper deposition from an acid-sulfate electrolyte. The main process variables investigated were temperature and addition agents (chloride ion, glue, separan or thiourea) at different concentrations, over a range of current densities. Cathodes employed were either polycrystalline titanium or copper. Some long-time copper deposits were also made using Ti cathodes and the orientations of these deposits were determined by x-ray diffraction.</p> <p>Observations of copper crystals produced during voltammetry scans, on a Ti cathode, indicated that a characteristic morphology was associated with each type of addition agent. Temperature also affected the physical appearance of the deposited copper. With a Cu cathode the crystal morphologies were essentially identical, regardless of the addition agent used. At a constant scanning rate of 1 mV/sec, the various addition agents, on both Ti and Cu cathodes, gave characteristic and reproducible voltammograms. Shifts and relative differences between the polarization curves were also noted with changing temperature.</p> <p>The results of this investigation indicate that there is a definite correlation between type and concentration of addition agent and voltammogram. The substrate used in the deposition process also has an effect. A definite relationship exists between the morphology of the copper and the processing conditions used during deposition. It thus seems that a combination of voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy would be potentially useful in predicting the electrolyzability of commercial copper refining or winning solutions"--Abstract, pages iv-v.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D. in Metallurgical Engineering

Grantor

University of Missouri--Rolla

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Toth, Louis Francis, Jr.

• Metallurgy

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/doctoral_dissertations/270

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsmine.mst.edu:doctoral_dissertations-1272