Abstract
We investigated the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the citrate-based CuNi solution at different solution pH and analyzed various surface properties of CuNi codeposition layer. By combining UV-Visible spectroscopic data with potentiodynamic polarization curves, it could be found that the complexation of $Ni^{2+}$-citrate pair was completed at lower solution pH than $Cu^{2+}$-citrate pair and was affected by the coexistent $Cu^{2+}$ ions, while the complexation between $Cu^{2+}$ ions and citrate was not sensitive to the presence of $Ni^{2+}$ ions. Also, the electron transfer from cathode to $Cu^{2+}$-citrate and$Ni^{2+}$-citrate was hindered by strong complexation between $Cu^{2+}/Ni^{2+}$ ions and citrate and so apparent codeposition current densities were reduced as the solution pH increases. CuNi codeposited layers had a higher Cu content when they were prepared at high pH solution due to the suppression of Ni deposition, and when codeposition was executed in an agitated condition due to the acceleration of mass transfer of $Cu^{2+}$ ions in the solution. Actually, solution pH had little effect on the surface morphology and deposits orientation, but greatly influenced the corrosion resistance in 3.5% NaCl solution by modifying the chemical composition of CuNi layers and so pH 3 was expected as the most suitable solution pH in the viewpoint of corrosion coatings.
