A study on electrodeposited Co-Mo alloys thin films

Cobalt-Molybdenum (Co-Mo) induced electrodeposition has been studied from a sulphate bath on Ru electrodes at pH 4. The conditions of electrodeposition of Co-Mo alloys were determined using the cyclic voltametry at different ions concentration ratios. The theoretical model of Scharifker-Hills was used to analyse the current transients for studying the first stage of nucleation of Co-Mo alloys. The electrodeposited coatings were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, X-rays diffraction and alternating gradient force magnetometer techniques. The cyclic voltametry shows that the codeposition of Co-Mo alloys was accompanied by concurrent reactions such as the formation of the molybdenum oxides and the hydrogen evolution reaction. For the electrodeposited Co-Mo, the nucleation is in good agreement with the instantaneous nucleation and three-dimensional (3D) diffusion-limited growth. Co-Mo thin films of an hcp structure have been obtained, and the electrodeposition parameters such as the applied potential have a great influence on the structure, morphology and magnetic properties