Electrodeposition of composite Fe–TiO2 coatings from methanesulfonate electrolyte

Abstract

The process of electrodeposition of an iron–titania composite electrochemical coating from methanesulfonate electrolyte is studied. TiO₂ Degussa P 25 nanopowder (a mixture of crystalline modifications of rutile and anatase, with the latter prevailing) is used for preparation of suspension electrolyte. The dispersed phase content in the composition coating increases at a decrease in current density and increase in TiO₂ in the suspension. It is shown that kinetics of codeposition is adequately described by the improved Guglielmi model. It is shown that inclusion of TiO₂ particles into an iron matrix results in an increase in microhardness of the coating due to dispersion strengthening. Fe–TiO₂ (anatase+rutile) coatings manifest photocatalytic activity with respect to the reaction of destruction of the methyl orange dye in aqueous solutions under exposure to UV radiation, and this activity is higher than in the case of similar coatings containing TiO₂–rutile particles.