Investigation of the Effect of Applied Current Density on Wetting Properties of Cerium Oxide Coating Fabricated by Electrochemical Deposition Method

In this study, cerium oxide coatings were fabricated by electrochemical deposition method on copper substrates. The effect of applied current density on morphology, crystallographic structure, surface chemistry, surface roughness & wetting property of coatings was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy & static water contact angle measurement methods. The results showed that, by increasing the applied current density, cerium oxide coatings become thicker & rougher including more cracks. Also decreasing of applied current density lead to enhanced growth of (002) crystallographic planes & crystallite size in the microstructure of cerium oxide coatings. More hydrophilic cerium oxide coatings were fabricated at higher applied current densities. Although as-deposited cerium oxide coatings were hydrophilic but their behavior changed to hydrophobic as a result of long exposure to atmosphere & hydrocarbon adsorption. The hydrocarbon adsorption was higher in the case of cerium oxide coatings fabricated at higher applied current densities.