RBS analysis of Sm–Ni alloy films prepared by molten salt electrochemical process

Abstract The Sm–Ni alloy films were prepared on an Ni electrode by two different electrochemical methods in a molten LiCl–KCl–SmCl3 (0.5 mol%) system at 723 K. The composition and the film thickness of the Sm–Ni alloy films were studied by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). SmNi2 was rapidly and uniformly formed by Li codeposition method. In the initial period, the film growth is linear to time, where the supply of Sm seems to be the rate control process. Though the rate control process is thought to change to the diffusion of elements in the film during the film growth, formation of SmNi2 progresses as the electrolysis time increases. On the other hand, it was indicated that the (SmNi2 + Ni) film was formed by electrolysis at 0.10 V. The growth rate is proportional to the square root of time in the initial period, however, the growth hardly progresses after 5 min.