Influence of a static magnetic field on nickel electrodeposition studied using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, atomic force microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry

We investigated the influence of static magnetic fields up to 740 mT on the electrochemical nickel deposition from a sulphamate electrolyte. The magnetic field was applied parallel to the surface of the working electrode and thus gave rise to magnetohydrodynamic convection by Lorentz forces. An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance was used to characterize the amount of hydrogen produced on the cathode during the deposition and to calculate the efficiency of the deposition process. The amount of hydrogen produced depends on the magnetic flux density, and this dependence can be explained by the complex interplay of the electrode kinetics and hydrodynamic effects, correlated with the Lorentz force. Atomic force microscopy showed an increase of the surface roughness of the nickel layers deposited in the magnetic field. The absolute values of the magnetic properties of the layers prepared in the magnetic field differed slightly from those prepared in the absence of a magnetic field. This can be explained by the structural changes. No anisotropy of the magnetic properties was observed.