Effects of Polyoxyethylene Ether Addition on the Nucleation and Microtopography of Zinc Electrodeposited in a Neutral Electrolyte

This work investigated the mechanism underlying the effect of polyoxyethylene ether (PEO-1100) on Zn nucleation and growth in a neutral solution (5 M NH4Cl). The mechanism underlying the modification of the Zn morphology in a Zn 2+ -NH 4 + -Cl - solution by PEO-1100 was studied through cathodic polarization, cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), metallographic examination, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A dendrite-free Zn film was obtained at a current density of 40 mA cm -2 . The internal microstructure of Zn in the presence and absence of PEO-1100 was observed through metallographic examination and SEM. XRD revealed that the Zn crystal growth exhibited a preferential orientation in the presence of PEO-1100. The reduction kinetics of zinc were inhibited by the addition of PEO-1100. The effects of PEO-1100 on Zn nucleation and the overpotential of Zn deposition were observed.