An EQCM study of ultrasonically assisted electrodeposition of Co/CeO2 and Ni/CeO2 composites for fuel cell applications

The electrodeposition of Co/CeO 2 and Ni/CeO 2 composites from electrolytes containing suspended nanoparticles of gadolinia doped ceria under the influence of power ultrasound was studied using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance technique (EQCM). The amount of oxide incorporation into the layers was determined by electron probe microanalysis. From 0.1 M cobalt electrolytes rough Co layers with ceria contents of up to 8% were deposited, and a strong increase in the damping of the quartz was observed. In the case of Ni deposition an increase of the deposition rate enhanced the current efficiency and lead to larger ceria contents.