Morphology and growth of electrodeposited silver powder particles

The effect of overpotential pulsing and periodic current reversal on the morphology of silver powders was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is shown that the profile of pulses or current reversal determines the micromorphology of the electrodeposited silver particles. Generally, three forms of silver were detected: (1) dendrites, (2) equiaxial crystals (independent and/or agglomerates) and (3) rods. The shape of particle seems to be the result of an interplay between the surface energy and growth kinetics.