The effect of the ultrasound agitation and source of ceria particles on the morphology and structure of the Zn–Co–CeO2 composite coatings

The goal of this research was to develop and analyse novel Zn–Co–CeO2 protective coatings on steel. Two different sources ceria (CeO2) particles were employed: commercial powder synthesized stable colloidal dispersion-sol. plating solution agitated by ultrasounds (20 30 W cm−2) or magnetic stirrer (300 rpm) during electrodeposition. CeO2 used characterized methods, namely scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission (TEM) X-ray diffraction (XRD) compare the morphology, crystallinity particle size. morphology developed composite analysed SEM, preferred texture calculated based XRD results corrosion behaviour evaluated electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) polarization measurements. Utilizing electrodeposition resulted in advanced properties nanocomposite compared stirring. content increased ~5 wt% when applied sol as a source particles. Presence offered favourable action increasing barrier coatings, thereby providing prolonged lifetime Zn–Co alloy coatings. benefit more pronounced case sol, deposition at 20 cm−2, values modulus low frequencies reached four times higher after 4 days exposure 3 NaCl than for deposited with stirring both source. lowest value current density (2.15 μA determined (CeO2 sol) under cm−2 US power.