Electrodeposition of copper from non-cyanide alkaline solution containing tartrate

Abstract

International audienceA thermodynamic study of the aqueous copper(II)-tartrate-chloride system is presented in this work with the view to better understand the electrodeposition of copper from a non-cyanide alkaline solution. Additionally, an electrochemical study onto the initial stages of copper electrodeposition on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is presented in this work. Upon scanning in the negative direction, two cathodic peaks were observed, which are associated with two reduction processes with different energies that involve the same species of copper (II). Analysis of chronoamperograms obtained indicates that the nucleation mechanism involved during the initial stages of Cu deposition is consistent with the model of 3D diffusion-controlled nucleation. The morphological study indicated that the potential plays a role on grain size and shape of the copper coating obtained. Non-linear fitting methods were applied to obtain the growth and nucleation kinetic parameters from theoretical equations proposed to describe this system