US-Belgium Cooperative Research: Fundamental Studies of Metal Electrocrystallization

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This award will support continued collaborative research between Dr. Thomas O'Keefe, University of Missouri at Rolla and Dr. Rene Winand, Free University of Brussels, Belgium. A major area of current technical importance is the processing of high technology materials. The electronics, chemical, aerospace and automatic industries all rely heavily on such processing techniques. Surface coatings and interfacial phenomena continue to play a role in the material science related to these areas. In this project, Drs. O'Keefe and Winand will expand their previous research efforts on the topic of metal film processing on both conductive and non-conductive substrates. The areas of primary emphasis will be the fundamental principles of thin metal film production. The characterization and evaluation of the performance and properties of such metal coatings, as a function of deposition process parameters, will be included. The techniques used will include both electrolytic and RF plasma enhanced organometallic deposition. Specific work will also be carried out on mass transport measurements in aqueous metal deposition systems. This data is important to future high current density processes. The results of this joint work may lead improved understanding of factors affecting the properties of thin film. Dr. Winand is a leading European electrochemist specializing in electrodeposition of metals. Dr. O'Keefe is well known for his work on zinc deposition. This project will benefit from their combined expertise.