Optical properties of Cobalt Films Electrochemically Deposited from Aqueous and Non-aqueous Ionic Liquids

The purpose of this experiment is to characterize the differences between aqueous and non-aqueous cobalt ion precursors for electrodeposition and their subsequent cobalt films. Red aqueous cobalt solutions (ACoS) deposited silver metal films while the blue non-aqueous cobalt solutions (NCoS) deposited black films after electrodeposition was performed. The solutions were further shown to be different by their electronic spectra. The reflectivity of the aqueous deposited cobalt films (ACoFs) was greater than that of the non-aqueous deposited cobalt films (NCoFs). Non-aqueous deposited cobalt films have potential applications in optically absorbent applications because of their negligible reflectivity. Cross-section thickness analysis of the cobalt films showed different growth rates, as the aqueous film plated to 149µm thick after 30 minutes of deposition, where the non-aqueous deposited film plated to 282µm