Electrodeposition mechanism of Ni-Mo-P alloy in the solution of ammoniac citrate

The induced codeposition mechanism of Mo, P and Ni from the solution of ammoniac citrate was studied by means of steady-state polarization, AC impedance and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The result of electrochemical measurements proved that [NiCit(NH3)2]- is the electro-active species of nickel, though nickel ions exist mainly as [NiCit(NH3)3]- in ammoniac citrate. XPS experiments proved the existence of tetravalent molybdenum corresponding to MoO2 on the surface of some deposits. The intermediate product, MoO2, was probably reduced to Mo in the alloy deposit by atomic hydrogen adsorbed on the induced metal nickel. The reduction of H2PO2- occurs through two distinctive steps with PH3 as an intermediate, which subsequently reacts with atomic hydrogen to form P in the alloy deposit. The electrodeposition mechanism was proposed in this paper.