Influence of the type of electrolyte on the morphological and crystallographic characteristics of lead powder particles

Lead electrodeposition processes from the basic (nitrate) and complex (acetate) electrolytes were mutually compared by the scanning electron microscopic and the X-ray diffraction analysis of the produced powder particles. The shape of dendritic particles strongly depended on the type of electrolyte. The dendrites composed of stalk and weakly developed primary branches (the primary type) were predominantly formed from the basic electrolyte. The ramified dendrites composed of stalk and of both primary and secondary branches (the secondary type) were mainly formed from the complex electrolyte. In the both type of powder particles Pb crystallites were predominantly oriented in the (111) plane. Formation of powder particles of the different shape with the strong (111) preferred orientation was discussed and explained by the consideration of the general characteristics of the growth of a crystal in the electrocrystallization processes.