Effects of additives on zinc electrodeposition from alkaline zincate solution

The effects of additives on the surface and cross-sectional morphologies of zinc deposits on iron substrate from alkaline zincate solution were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The cathodic reaction mechanisms under various concentrations of additives were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. It is found that with increasing the additive A content in the bath solution, the nucleation overpotential (NOP) value is obviously increased and the inhibition effect is strengthened. This may be mainly due to the adsorption of additive A on the cathodic electrode surface, which can cover the active sites and block the discharge reduction. The results of EIS analysis indicate that the rate-determining step of zinc electrodeposition process is changed from mixed control step into electrochemical reduction step in the presence of additive A. However, any quantity of additive B has little effect on the NOP value and the inhibition effect is not obvious. Furthermore, addition of additive A and additive B at the same time displays the strongest inhibition effect and shows a strong synergism because of their co-adsorption on the cathodic electrode surface.