Kinetics and mechanism of chromium electrodeposition from methanesulfonate solutions of Cr(III) salts

Kinetics and mechanism of the chromium electrodeposition process in methanesulfonate and sulfate solutions of Cr(III) ions have been investigated. The electroreduction of Cr(III) complex ions is shown to proceed stepwise with the formation of relatively stable intermediates—Cr(II) compounds. Chromium is established to be deposited via the discharge of Cr(II) hydroxocomplexes in these electrochemical systems. Some differences in electrodeposition behavior of methanesulfonate and sulfate trivalent chromium electrolytes are associated with the differences in their buffering capacity.