Electrodeposition of Nanocrystalline Chromium Coatings Based on 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium-Bromide Ionic Liquid

The electrochemical behavior of trivalent chromium reduction from 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-bromide ([BMIM]Br) ionic liquid is studied. The result of cyclic voltammetry shows that the Cr(III) reduction is irreversible and occurs in two steps, Cr(III)to Cr(II), and Cr(II) to Cr(0), respectively. In the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, the preferable equivalent circuit is made to fit the experimental data. The effects of electroplating parameters on coating thickness and electrodepositon rate are investigated by potentiostatic method on Cu electrode from Cr(III)-[BMIM]Br solution. The results show that the temperature and depositing potential have great effect on the coating thickness and electrodeposition rate. The surface morphology and composition of deposited Cr are investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). SEM analysis shows that chromium electrodeposits obtained on Cu electrodes present a ball-like structure. EDS analysis shows that the coatings are composed of Cr. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of the as-deposited chromium layer is evaluated using polarization curves. The results show that the corrosion resistance of the chromium coatings obtained at higher potential is better.