Structure, composition, and morphology of electrodeposited CoxFe1-x alloys

We have investigated the structure, composition, and morphology of CoxFe1-x alloys prepared on copper substrates under potentiostatic electrodeposition conditions currently used to produce composition modulated alloys. CoxFe1-x alloys with x = 1 to 0 have been obtained by simple control of the Co2+ : Fe2+ ratio in the bath solutions using the characteristic behavior of the codeposition of the metals. The alloy composition was determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy. X-ray analysis of the structure of deposits indicates texture with coexistence of phases. For higher iron concentrations the are mostly body-centered-cubic with (110) preferred orientation. For higher cobalt concentrations the alloys become mostly hexagonal with (0001) preferred orientation. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the deposit morphology. Except for alloy concentrations of about x = 0.7, where a nonuniform character of deposits with partial cobalt segregation has been observed, the Co-Fe alloys have a rather uniform composition and morphology in the cathodic potentials used for electrodeposition.