During the nickel electrodeposition process, secondary reactions corresponding to the reduction of a proton to H_ads and the evolution of molecular hydrogen occur. The H_ads could be absorbed and diffused in the substrate. In this work, we studied the effect of samarium on the process of hydrogen permeation that carries out during the electrodeposition of nickel from a nickel sulfamate bath which also contains the tensioactive SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate). The experiments were carried out at pH 3 and T=25 ° C, with a Devanathan Starchuski cell and with different concentrations of SDS and Sm.

According to the results obtained from the permeation current and the hydrogen diffusion in the metal, we observe that additions of SDS and Sm at concentrations of 0.1g/l and 2g/l respectively will decrease the hydrogen absorption in the substrate. The influence of these additives on the mechanism of hydrogen absorption will be discussed.