Preparation and characterization of nanostructured Cu/Sn electrodeposits formed by feedback potential control

Abstract

The production of nanostructured materials in oscillatory regimes far from thermodynamic equilibrium have been presented as an alternative synthesis methodology in which unprecedented physic-chemical proprieties can be achieved. Specifically in the oscillatory electrodeposition of metallic Cu/Sn multilayers, major fundamental interest (understanding the formation mechanism) and technological interest (increase in the energetic efficiency on electrodes for lithium batteries) lies in the precise control on the thickness and chemical composition of the self-organized nanostructure. To date, no experimental systematization has been developed for such purpose, considering this system. This project, therefore, proposes the application of a control methodology used in nonlinear dynamics (i. e. delayed feedback) on the electrical current, aiming at the synthesis of nanostructured metallic multilayers with predefined thickness and composition by control engineering of the system temporal dynamics. In general, the project consists in mapping the conditions under which current oscillations are observed during the Cu/Sn oscillatory electrodeposition, developing a real-time adaptive control algorithm for the nanostructured material synthesis, followed by its physical characterization. Comparisons between the electrodeposits formed on stationary and oscillatory conditions will be performed in order to better understand the singularities present in the synthesis process when the system is kept away from thermodynamic equilibrium. (AU)