ALSV investigation of the phase composition of electrolytic Cu + Sn alloys

Anodic linear sweep voltammograms (ALSVs) have been recorded for thin layers of Cu + Sn alloys electrochemically deposited on graphite from a pyrophosphate bath. Three characteristic peaks were found. The first peak, appearing in the ALSVs of all samples, could be ascribed both to pure Cu (in the deposit obtained at low cathodic polarization) and to the η-Cu₆Sn₅ phase, while one of the other two peaks appearing only in the samples obtained at low cathodic polarization should reflect the presence of the -Cu₃Sn phase. The other peak, appearing only in the samples obtained at high cathodic polarization, is likely to reflect the presence of the tin-rich β-solid solution. The phase composition, in terms of the content of different phases, was determined as a function of the thickness of the alloy as well as of the deposition potential.