Electrocrystallization of zinc on copper single crystal planes under the influence of an asymmetric alternating current

Zinc electrodeposited from a sulphate bath on to copper single crystal planes revealed a layer-type growth on copper (111) and (100) planes and ridge-type growth on the (110) plane at low d.c. densities. Dendritic growth appeared at higher d.c. densities on all the planes. Superimposition of a.c. on d.c. during electrocrystallization produced hexagonal pyramids on the copper (111) plane, which were transformed into hexagonal dendrites under suitable a.c. to d.c. ratios. The influence of a.c. on the degree of epitaxy of zinc on copper and the mechanism of the dendrite initiation are discussed.