Electrodeposition of a cobalt-molybdenum alloy from an ammonia-citrate electrolyte

Kinetics of processes of electrochemical production of a cobalt-molybdenum alloy out of an ammonia-citrate electrolyte is studied. The electrolyte's composition is similar to that used for depositing a nickel-molybdenum alloy. It is established that the cobalt-molybdenum alloy undergoes deposition at smaller values of pH (5.0-6.0) than the nickel-molybdenum alloy (7.0-9.0). The current efficiency for the cobalt-molybdenum alloy is substantially dependent on the electrolyte pH, whereas the chemical composition of the obtained deposits is practically independent of the electrolyte pH in the pH interval 5.0-8.0 at current densities of 0.025 to 0.100 A cm(-2). On the other hand, a change in the electrolyte pH produces a considerable effect on the morphology of the obtained deposits. At large values of pH (pH 8.0), one can obtain a powder-like deposit of the cobalt-molybdenum alloy with a small value of the current efficiency. The deposits that are obtained in the pH region 5.0-6.0 have some cracks, with the number of cracks increasing with the electrolyte pH.