Morphological and crystallographic characteristics of lead powder obtained by electrodeposition from an environmentally friendly electrolyte

Lead powder obtained by potentiostatic electrodeposition from alkaline electrolyte, based on hydroxide ions, was investigated. The shape of lead crystals strongly depends on overpotentials of electrodeposition. The regular crystals are formed in the ohmic control. The shape of dendrites formed in the control of diffusion has a function of overpotentials of the electrodeposition. Increasing overpotential leads to branching of dendrites from primary type to those with developed tertiary branches. Formation of the very branchy dendrites of the strong (111) preferred orientation is explained on the basis of the affiliation of this electrolyte to the group of the complex Pb electrolytes.