ELECTRODEPOSITION STUDY ON ULTRAMICROELECTRODES .1. INFLUENCE OF THE SUBSTRATE SURFACE-STATE IN AG CRYSTALLIZATION

A silver electrodeposition study has been carried out using C and Pt m icroelectrodes of radius 5 mum. The special characteristics of the mic roelectrodes have allowed this study to be carried out in experimental conditions that would be not possible with larger electrodes. For exa mple, electrochemical measurements have been performed without support ing electrolyte. Furthermore, the small number of nuclei formed on the se microelectrodes allow a better understanding of the nucleation and growth process. Under certain experimental conditions, step increases in current have been observed in potentiostatic and voltammetric measu rements and related to the deposition mode. The importance of the subs trate superficial state for nucleation and growth has been clearly sho wn.