Nucleation and growth of tin-zinc electrodeposits on a polycrystalline platinum electrode in tartaric acid

Current transients measurements and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the electrocrystallization process and morphology of tin-zinc alloys electrodeposited on Pt, in the absence and in the presence of tartaric acid. The model of Scharifker and Hills was used to analyze the current transients and it revealed that Sn-Zn electrocrystallization process in the presence of tartrate, under the studied conditions, is governed by three-dimensional progressive nucleation controlled by diffusion. In the absence of the complexant, the results indicated that nucleation process changes from instantaneous to progressive when the deposition potential becomes more negative, or when the incorporation of zinc occured to the deposit. The microscopic results showed deposits with two layers with different morphologies and is also influenced by deposition potential.