Electrodeposition of NiSn-rGO composite coatings from deep eutectic solvents and their physicochemical characterization

Abstract

The present work describes, for the first time, the electrodeposition of NiSn alloy/reduced graphene oxide composite coatings (NiSn-rGO) obtained under pulse current electrodeposition conditions from deep eutectic solvents (choline chloride: ethylene glycol eutectic mixtures) containing well-dispersed GO nanosheets. The successful incorporation of the carbon-based material into the metallic matrix has been confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and cross-section scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A decrease in the crystallite size of the coating was evidenced when graphene oxide was added to the electrolyte. Additionally, the topography and the electrical properties of the materials were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The corrosion behavior in 0.5 M NaCl solution was analyzed through potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods for different immersion periods, up to 336 h, showing a slightly better corrosion performance as compared to pure NiSn alloy.