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Anode-Cathode distance influence in electroplating of alloys

Q. Dear Forum Members,

Is there any relation between coating thickness and distance between the anode and cathode?

I work with electrodeposition of the Nickel-Cobalt alloys for Micro/Nanosystem applications.

Thank you,

Isman Khazi
Graduate Student - Furtwangen, Germany
April 6, 2016

A. Hi Isman. The most basic calculation in electroplating is Faraday's Law of Electrolysis, which says that 96,485 Ampere-seconds of electricity will deposit one gram equivalent weight of metal (at 100% efficiency, although some of the electricity may be "wasted" in liberation of hydrogen from the water of the electrolyte rather than deposition of metal).

However, the required voltage to drive this current depends on the resistance per Ohm's Law. So moving the cathode further from the anode means greater solution resistance and therefore greater voltage and therefore greater power consumption. Sometimes moving the cathode further from the anode can improve the distribution of plating thickness though.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
April 2016

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