In-situ AFM study of the electrodeposition of copper on plasma modified carbon fibre-reinforced polymer surfaces

The nucleation and crystal growth of electrodeposited Cu onto carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) surfaces were studied by means of in-situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (AFM) and complementary integral electrochemical techniques. Both the orientation of the composite fibres and the surface structure were changed to reveal the influence of these parameters on the nucleation and crystal growth. The modification of the surface was performed via an oxidative low temperature plasma process. The subsequent electrodeposition of Cu was accomplished from a 0.1 M CuSO4 solution at pH 2. It could be demonstrated that a plasma functionalized composite surface with carboxylic acid groups in combination with an induced change in surface topography strongly affects the nucleation and crystal growth of copper.

► In-situ electrochemical AFM investigations of Cu electrodeposition process ► Ar/O2 low-pressure plasma treatment of composite material ► Cu nucleation and crystal growth on CFRP is influenced by surface chemistry.