DEPOSITION OF NICKEL-HYDROXIDE STRUCTURES USING THE SCANNING ELECTROCHEMICAL MICROSCOPE

The scanning electrochemical microscope has been applied to drive the deposition of Ni(OH)2 Structures. Nickel hydroxide has been deposited from aqueous solutions onto platinum surf aces as a result of changing the pH locally on the electrode surface. The increase in pH is driven by an oxidation-reduction process, i.e., N,N'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium, MV2+, which is reduced at an ultramicroelectrode, diffuses to the surface where it is regenerated upon thee reduction of protons, causing a local increase of pH and the deposition of Ni(OH)2. The different parameters that control the efficiency of the deposition, such as the pH and the concentration of the buffer, have been examined.