Intermetallics as key to spiral formation in In–Co electrodeposition. A study based on photoelectron microspectroscopy, mathematical modelling and numerical approximations

This paper reports on spiral pattern formation in In–Co electrodeposition. We propose an approach to the understanding of this process based on: (i) compositional and chemicalstate distribution analysis by high-resolution photoelectron microspectroscopy and (ii) a mathematical model able to capture the morphological features highlighted in the experiments. Microspectroscopy—complemented by electrochemical, structural and morphological characterisations—combined with mathematical modelling, analytical and numerical investigations, converge in pointing out the key role played by intermetallic electrodeposition in spiral formation.