Electrochemical Production of Magnetic Co-Mo Alloys Thin Films

Co-Mo alloys thin films were electrodeposited on ruthenium substrate from sulfate solution without additives at pH = 4. The effect of deposition potential on Co-Mo films was studied by using the electrochemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an energy dispersed X-ray microanalyzer (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and alternating gradient force magnetometer (AGFM) techniques. Cyclic Voltammetric analysis reveals that the codeposition of Co-Mo alloys was accompanied by concurrent reactions such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) depended on the nature of the species in solution. SEM characterization of the deposits shows a nodular morphology and rounded crystallites distributed homogeneously on the substrate with the presence of holes as consequences of HER. XRD measurements indicate a small crystallite size with the presence of an hcp Co-Mo structures. The magnetic analysis by AGFM at room temperature revealed that the magnetic behaviour of the films was strongly influenced by the applied potential.