Role of Ceria Nanoparticles on the Electrodeposited Zinc Coating's Growth: Interest of a TEM-Scale Investigation

The study deals with a Zn-ceria nanocomposite coating synthesized by direct current electrodeposition. The aim of the study was to determine how the presence of the ceramic particles may affect the coating’s growth. Distribution of the ceramic phase into the metallic matrix is deduced from a deep TEM characterization. It was observed that the formation of nanocomposite coating was strongly governed by a preferential lateral growth of zinc. Nanoparticles were mainly located on the top-surface and in a lesser extent into the film’s thickness. Optimization of the incorporated nanoparticules’ rate is then discussed on the basis of hosting sites, such as grain boundaries.