Magnetic field effect on electrodeposition of Cu₂O crystals

A. L. Daltin - J.- P. Chopart

LACM-DTI LRC CEA, EA 3304, URCA, B.P. 1039, 51687 Reims Cedex 2, France

Abstract
Cuprous oxide microcrystals were formed on stainless steel and ITO substrates by cathodic deposition of a nitrate bath with and without SDS (NaC12H24O4S) as a surfactant agent. The influence of high magnetic field on the tunable morphology of Cu₂O was studied. It was shown that without SDS, the morphology of cubic crystals changes from dense to very a high porous crystal with a high magnetic field (12 T) and to a labyrinthine type structure for an intermediate field (6 T). With SDS, a fractal type growth is generated with branching in more numerous directions under a magnetic field due to modification in adsorption of SDS under magnetically induced convection. Figs 5, Refs 14.