Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.111, No.9, 4267-4272, 1999
Transient equations for multiple nucleation on solid electrodes: A stochastic description
We consider the phenomenon of heterogeneous nucleation in electrolytic cells. Through the proposition of a stochastic model, we derive an equation to describe the migration of solute ions and their reaction near the electrode surface. Defining particular boundary conditions, the stochastic equation is solved and the time dependent probability density is related to the flux of ions towards the growing nucleus. The flux of ions is identified as the current transient expression, which is adequate for a comparison with the experimental results. The theory is powerful enough to reproduce results obtained by electrodepositing cobalt on n-type silicon and to explain deviations from predictions of the standard model for three-dimensional nucleation diffusion limited growth.