Electrodeposition of Iron Films on Copper Surfaces from Iron(III) Gluconate Solutions

SUMMARYIron films have been electrodeposited galvanostatically onto copper substrates from slightly acidic (pH 5.7) solutions containing ferric sulphate and sodium gluconate under different electrolytic conditions i.e. solution composition, pH, temperature and current density. The influence of each parameter on potentiodynamic polarisation curves, cathodic current efficiency and throwing power of the solutions has been studied. It was found that the optimum conditions for producing sound Fe films are: 0.038 mol dm3 Fe2(SO4)37 H2O + 0.14 mol dm1 sodium gluconate, current density (c.d.) of j=0.33 A dm2, pH 5.7 and a temperature of 2 5°C. The optimum solution is characterised by its excellent throwing power. The surface morphology of the “as-deposited” Fe films was investigated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) while the crystal structure was examined by using X-ray diffraction.