Sol-Enhanced Electrodeposition of Ni-Co-CeO2 Nano-composite Electrodes for Improved Electrochemical Performance in an Alkaline Media

Sarraf, Shayan; Hosseini, Seyedeh Marzieh; rastegari, Saeed; Soltanieh, Mansour

doi:10.22068/ijmse.4640

IN PRESS Back to the articles list | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.22068/ijmse.4640

Sol-Enhanced Electrodeposition of Ni-Co-CeO2 Nano-composite Electrodes for Improved Electrochemical Performance in an Alkaline Media

Shayan Sarraf

, Seyedeh Marzieh Hosseini

, Saeed Rastegari

, Mansour Soltanieh

Abstract: (64 Views)

In this study, Ni-Co-CeO₂ nanocomposite coatings were deposited on copper substrates via a sol-enhanced electrodeposition method. Cerium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using cerium chloride precursor and HMTA as a precipitating agent at 70 °C and subsequently added to a Watts bath containing nickel and cobalt ions. An investigation of the effect of deposition current density (10 to 30 mA.cm^-2) revealed that increasing the deposition current density reduced the cerium oxide content in the coating from 12.2 to 7.1 wt%. SEM images confirmed a morphological transformation from an acicular structure to a fine-grained microstructure with surface heterogeneity in the presence of the nanoparticles. XRD results further demonstrated grain refinement induced by the CeO₂ reinforcing phase. Electrochemical evaluations in 1 M KOH solution showed that the sample deposited at a current density of 20 mA.cm^-2 exhibited the highest performance, with a discharge time of 92 seconds (a 77% improvement compared to the particle-free sample) and optimal charge transfer resistance. This enhanced performance is attributed to a favorable balance between the electrical conductivity of the metallic matrix and the catalytic activity of the cerium oxide nanoparticles. The findings of this investigation substantiate the efficacy of the sol-enhanced method in designing advanced electrodes for energy systems.

Keywords: Ni-Co-CeO2 coatings, sol-enhanced electrodeposition, CV, EIS, GCD