Outstanding electrocatalytic activity and corrosion property of NiCr nanoparticle alloys electrodeposited from a choline chloride/urea deep eutectic solvent

• NiCr alloys were successfully electrodeposited on glassy carbon electrodes from eutectic mixtures. • Electrodeposition of NiCr followed a 3D nucleation and diffusion-controlled growth of bimetallic nuclei mechanism. • Ni-Cr electrodeposited alloy composition is influenced by applied potential. • Electrodeposited Ni-Cr alloys exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity in acidic media. • Electrodeposited Ni-Cr alloys present excellent corrosion resistance and uniform coatings. Nickel-chromium alloys are known for their superior corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and hardness, making them a topic of significant interest. This study explores the electrodeposition of Ni-Cr alloys onto a glassy carbon electrode from a choline chloride/urea deep eutectic solvent. Electrochemical techniques, including cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, were utilized to explore the deposition process. Voltametric analysis revealed that Ni-Cr alloys could be electrodeposited from the reline DES through a single potential step. The analysis of current density transients indicated that the electrocrystallization of Ni-Cr follows a three-dimensional (3D) nucleation and diffusion-controlled mechanism on the bimetallic growing surface. Additionally, the presence of the Ni(II) component was found to significantly enhance the kinetics of Ni-Cr phase formation, facilitating rapid deposition from the eutectic mixture. Surface characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) mapping, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), confirmed the uniform distribution of elements, the formation of the Ni-Cr phase, and its crystalline structure. The high quality of nickel-chromium alloys obtained from DES highlights their potential applications in various engineering fields, particularly in surface coating and metal protection.