Electrodeposition of copper on the copper (1 0 0) face in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol

Observations were made of the morphological changes which occur during the electrodeposition of copper on the copper (1 0 0) plane from an acid sulphate bath and in the presence of known concentrations of 2-mercaptoethanol at various current densities. At lower current densities, there was a transition from layers to ridges and then to polycrystalline growth with increasing concentration of 2 mercaptoethanol. At higher current densities the change was from pyramids to truncated blocks, then to ridges and finally to a polycrystalline deposit. The electrokinetic parameters have been correlated with these morphological changes and transport mechanisms have been proposed for different concentrations of the addition agent. © 1982 Chapman and Hall Ltd