Galvanostatic formation of zinc nuclei on an isotropic pyrolitic carbon electrode from a pure zincate solution and a solution containing an additive of the polymeric tetraalkilammonium salt (TAS) was studied. The process was analyzed taking into account hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts (zones A and B, respectively) of an electrode surface on the charge transfer and crystallization stages. Due to a specific behavior of TAS adsorption on the surface of zones A and B, the nucleation process occurs in two steps. During the first period a few number of nuclei (N~105 cm-2) are formed on sites of zones B which are not occupied by TAS molecules. Under conditions of the constant j and inhibition of nuclei growth it causes an increase of supersaturation and secondary nucleation on occupied by TAS sites of the electrode and formation of a large number of nuclei (N~108 cm-2).

A method for calculation of an average local rate A¯ of potentiostatic nucleation in an arbitrary time range of an electrode process has been proposed. An example of analysis of Zn nucleation from a zincate electrolyte on a pyrolytic carbon electrode according to Scharifker and Mostany's kinetic model has been used as an illustration of the proposed method. A growth or decrease of A¯ during the nucleation period has been explained by activation of the electrode surface or depletion of more active center of the electrode, respectively.

Peculiarities of an influence of polyacrylamide (PAA) on the charge transfer and crystallization stages during galvanostatic growth of monoatomic layer of copper from an acid sulfate solution were studied. An analysis of the electrode process was based on Vetter's conception of additivity of charge transfer and crystallization overpotentials ηD and ηc. A probable mechanism of an influence of the additive consists in inhibition of growth steps of the deposit by a mixed adsorption layer of HSO4- ions and PAA. That layer creates an additional potential barrier to incorporation of copper adatoms into growth sites. Inhibition of the crystallization stage by PAA results in both an increase of ηc and a considerable influence of supersaturation on kinetics of the stage of Cu2+ ion reduction.

The process of Zn monolayer electrocrystallization on an iron electrode from a zincate electrolyte including the transfer from Zn underpotential deposition (UPD) to Zn phase growth under supersaturation conditions (OPD) has been studied by the galvanostatic potential transient method. In the OPD region, an analysis of potential transients E(t) has been carried out on the basis of the conception of summation of the charge transfer and crystallization overpotentials. OPD of a Zn monolayer from both the pure electrolyte and one containing an inhibiting additive of polymeric tetraalkylammonium salt does not involve nucleation and has been interpreted as development of growth sites formed on a Zn-Fe alloy surface under UPD conditions. An assumption concerning inheritance of peculiarities of Zn intercalation into the Fe crystal lattice by the charge transfer and crystallization stages of Zn monolayer growth during the UPD-OPD transfer has been strengthened.

Potentiostatic formation of zinc nuclei on an isotropic pyrolitic carbon electrode from a zincate solution with no additive and an electrolyte containing polymeric tetraalkilammonium salt (TAS) was studied. The process was analyzed taking into account an influence of hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts (zones A and B, respectively) of the electrode surface on the charge transfer and crystallization stages. Due to specific features of TAS adsorption on the surface of zones A and B, nucleation results in formation of two groups of nuclei. A little number of nuclei (N~10 5 cm -2 ) is formed on those parts of zones B which are "free" from the additive. On sites of zones A and B "occupied" by TAS, nucleation occurs at a high supersaturation and a large number of nuclei (N~10 8 cm -2 ) is formed. The number of nuclei in the both electrolytes is controlled by nucleation exclusion zones.