The effects of a magnetic field on the morphologies of nickel and copper deposits: The concept of "effective overpotential"

The morphologies of nickel and copper deposits obtained without applied magnetic fields, and with both parallel and perpendicular applied magnetic fields were examined by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. Changes in the mor- phologies of the metals caused by the effect of the magnetic fields are explained by the concept of "effective overpotential". The morphologies of the nickel and copper deposits obtained under parallelly oriented magnetic fields were similar to those ob- tained at some lower cathodic potentials without an applied magnetic field. The mag- netic field with a perpendicular orientation to the electrode surface increased the dis- persity of the nickel and copper deposits. Nickel and copper deposits obtained un- der this orientation of the magnetic field were similar to those obtained at some higher cathodic potentials without an applied magnetic field.