Valence-to-core X-ray emission spectroscopy was applied to study a composition of chromium coatings electrodeposited from Cr(III) sulfate electrolytes with the addition of formic or oxalic acid. It was shown that the obtained crystallographically amorphous deposits contain chromium carbide compounds. These results indicate that nanodimensional Cr crystallites formed during the electrodeposition process are characterized by very high electrocatalytic activity.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Surface layers that form on a chromium electrode after its contact with sulfuric acid solutions of formaldehyde, formic, oxalic, and glyoxylic acids at an open-circuit potential and in conditions of cathodic polarization at a potential of -1.05 ± 0.10 V (NHE) are examined by an x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy method. The structure of the C 1 s line, which characterizes the binding energy of electrons of that level with the nucleus in products of interaction of said organic compounds with metal, is analyzed in detail. It is established that chemisorption products include substances with reduced oxygen-containing functional groups and hydrocarbon fragments. The degree of carbonation of chemisorption products, whose appearance is probably connected with electrocatalytic reduction and processes of polymerization of organic substances, is given an estimate.