Synergistic Effect between PECTF and Iodide Ion on Nickel Electrodeposition from a Watts Bath

Abstract

Electrodeposition of nickel from a Watts bath in the presence of p-ethoxycyanothioformanilide (PECTF) as a new organic brightener and/or iodide ion were carried out on copper sheet. Investigations were conducted by cathodic current efficiency measurements, cathodic polarization curves and anodic linear stripping voltammetry, complemented with XRD analysis and SEM measurements. The effect of these additives on the throwing power as well as the throwing index of the Watts bath was studied. The results demonstrated that the inhibition of nickel reduction was observed in the presence of PECTF, or in the presence of iodide ion individually. Excellent inhibition was observed in the presence of a combination of PECTF and iodide ion due to their co-adsorption on the cathode surface (synergistic effect). X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the (200) plane was the most preferred growth orientation and the grain sizes decreased from 75 to 60 nm in the presence of the additives.