INTERMETALLIC COMPOUND FORMED BY ELECTRODEPOSITION OF INDIUM ON ANTIMONY

Indium galvanostatic electrodeposition from aqueous solutions on antim ony electrodes has been investigated together with time evolution of t he deposit composition. The morphology, composition and structure of t he deposit surface and cross-section have been analysed by SEM-EDS and X-ray diffraction both before and after annealing at 70, 110 and 135 degrees C for increasing times. The results showed the formation of In Sb, owing to indium diffusion into the bulk of the cathode and to the reaction with antimony. The indium diffusion coefficient in InSb betwe en 25 and 135 degrees C (from 0.1x10(-19) to 2.6x10(-19) m(2) s(-1))ha s been estimated from X-ray data and the values of the activation ener gy (30 kT mol(-1)) and preexponential factor (1.8x10(-15) m(2) s(-1)) have been determined. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.