Valence-to-core X-ray emission spectroscopy identification of carbide compounds in nanocrystalline Cr coatings deposited from Cr(III) electrolytes containing organic substances

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.