Synergistic effect of additives on bright nanocrystalline zinc electrodeposition

The influence of additives like cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Ethyl vanillin (EV) on zinc electrodeposition from acid sulfate bath was systematically investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and voltammetric techniques. The result shows the existence of interaction between CTAB and EV. They exhibited synergistic effect to produce bright nanocrystalline zinc coating on steel surface. The combined effects of these two compounds on deposition overpotential, hydrogen evolution, zinc ion diffusion, and surface coverage were discussed. The morphological and orientational changes occurred in electrodeposit were presented. Also the nucleation mechanism exhibited by zinc during electrodeposition in the presence of additive was examined.