Electrolyte ohmic heating during electrodeposition: The role of coupled kinetic-transport phenomena that lead to morphological and microstructural changes

Understanding the morphological changes to the electrodes during electrochemical processes is important to many fields. These morphological changes often lead to dendrite formation and significant heat generation that can be detrimental to the process, especially the performance and lifetime of batteries. In situ infrared thermometry and microscopy are used to study the evolution of temperature profiles during the microscale electrodeposition of copper from copper sulfate. Under certain conditions, the growth front of the deposit receded and the fastest growing dendrites would suddenly stop growing. Analysis of physicochemical, temperature, and current changes show that many dynamic phenomena are correlated and associated with localized pH changes that change the chemistry of electrodeposition and potential drops occurring across the electrodes that alter the transport around dendrites.