Pulsed Electrodeposition and Properties of Nickel-Based Composite Coatings Modified with Graphene Oxide

Abstract

Composite electrochemical coatings (CECs) on the basis of nickel modified with multilayer graphene oxide (GO) were deposited from a sulfate–chloride electrolyte in pulsed electrolysis mode. The microstructure of these CECs was studied by X-ray phase analysis and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the microhardness of nickel–GO CECs increases by approximately 1.40 times compared to pure nickel. The corrosion–electrochemical behavior of nickel–GO composite coatings in 0.5 M H2SO4 was studied. Based on tests in 3.5% NaCl, it was found that the addition of graphene oxide particles into the matrix of nickel electrodeposits, increases their corrosion resistance by 1.40–1.50 times. This can be explained by the uniformity of the distribution of GO in the nickel matrix, which contributes to the reduction in grain size, as well as the impermeability and stability of graphene oxide.