Substrate Effects on Zinc Deposition from Zincate Solutions: I . Deposition on Cu, Au, Cd and Zn

The deposition of zinc on Pb, Tl, Sn, and In has been investigated using cyclic voltammetry, potential pulse methods, x‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. There is no evidence of underpotential deposition on any of the substrates and the nucleation overvoltage is 30–;40 mV. Thallium forms a surface alloy with zinc and there is evidence that zinc diffuses into Pb. In the case of Sn and Tl the deposit had an intermediate orientation and on Pb and In the deposit was oriented perpendicular to the basal plane. Deposit orientation has been correlated with the degree of mismatch of zinc with the substrate. The morphology of the zinc was dense on all substrates and there was no evidence for the hexagonal type of deposit that is usually found on Zn and Cu.