Fig. 2. Zn nucleation and growth process. (a) Comparison of the theoretical dimensionless plots for instantaneous nucleation and the experimental nucleation process for ZnIn alloy at different overpotentials. (b) Nucleation overpotential of Zn on pure Zn and ZnIn alloy at 0.5 mA cm⁻². (c) Adsorption energies of the Zn atom on Zn and indium substrates. (d and e) Schematic diagram of nuclei growth on pure Zn and ZnIn alloy. (f and g) Thickness changes after 60 s of Zn plating on the pure Zn and ZnIn alloy surface by the finite element method. (h and i) The morphologies of Zn depositing on pure Zn and ZnIn alloy for 3 min, 6 min, 9 min and 12 min at a current density of 5 mA cm⁻².