Modulated magnetoelectrolysis

Xuegeng Yang1, Kerstin Eckert1, Sascha Mühlenhoff1,

Magitta Uhlemann2, Stefan Odenbach1
1. Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Technische Universitaet Dresden,
D-01069 Dresden, Germany
2. Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research,
P.O. Box 27 01 16, D-01171 Dresden, Germany
xuegeng.yang@tu-dresden.de

Electrodeposition is frequently affected by natural convection leading to an

inhomogeneous deposit due to the growth of the concentration boundary layer along
the cathode. It has been shown that the Lorentz force-driven convection, arising from
the coupling between the magnetic field B and the electric current, j, can considerably
improve the morphology of the deposits. However, the problem of their
inhomogeneous thickness remains under steady-state conditions of the Lorentz force-
driven convection. Even more, the efficiency of the latter decreases with increasing
process duration due to stabilizing density stratification formed in the cell interior. A
clear image of the velocity and concentration distribution is needed to have a better
understanding of the MHD effects on the electrolysis process.
In this study we use a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to map the concentration field
and particle image velocimetry to map the velocimetry field. We studied first the
complex dynamics during the start-up process of natural convection in presence of an
opposing Lorentz force-driven convection. It is characterized by the formation of a
bubble-like zone of less concentrated solution at the bottom of the cathode and its
subsequent rise along the cathode (the reverse process occurs at the anode). The growth
of these zones is the origin of a permanent compression of the Lorentz force-driven
convection towards the center of the cell. The resulting decay is closely linked to the
formation of stabilized vertical density stratification inside the cell. In order to
overcome the problem of stratification and increase the efficiency of the MHD
convection, we developed a novel technique consisting in the combination of pulse
plating and magnetoelectrolysis. Inside the experimental cell a modulated Lorentz force
distribution is generated by modulating the electric current inside an inhomogeneous
magnetic field. The characteristic time scales and structure of the velocity field
belonging to both the start-up and the decay of the Lorentz force-driven convection was
discussed. Furthermore we analyze the corresponding impact on the concentration
boundary layers at both electrodes. Finally, potential applications of the technique are
addressed.
This work was financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
(DFG) in form of the collaborative research centre SFB 609 Electromagnetic Flow
Control in Metallurgy, Crystal Growth and Electrochemistry.

1. G. Hinds et al, J. Phys. Chem. B 105(2001) 9487.

2. X. Yang, K. Eckert et al. Electrochim. Acta, 54(2008), 352.
3. X. Yang, K. Eckert et al. Electrochem. Comm. 11(2009), 318.