Electrophoretic deposition of colloidal particles on metallic substrate for
tuneable coating properties
Aude CHARLOT, Guillaume TOQUER, Xavier DESCHANELS
Laboratoire des Nanomatériaux pour l'Energie et le Recyclage
Institut de Chimie Séparative de Marcoule–UMR 5257
CEA/CNRS/UM2/ENSCM
CEA Marcoule, Bât 426, BP 17171, 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze (France)
The objective of this work is to develop ceramic coatings with controlled properties (optic,
thermic, mechanic ...) by using electrophoretic deposition of colloidal suspension on metal
substrate.
EPD has been widely used for the processing of traditional ceramics, including enamels and
porcelain, but very limited work concerns the engineering ceramics. However, in the last 15 years,
the interest in electrophoretic deposition as a technique to produce advanced materials has
significantly increased. Moreover, compared with other processing methods based on the packing
of particles, EPD process allows uniform deposits with high microstructural homogeneity. Indeed,
this electrochemical technique provides adequate control of deposit thickness and deposits
coatings on a wide range of shapes and 3D complex and porous structures.
The innovative point of this work is to use the EPD for controlling the thickness of submicron
layers starting from stable dispersed nanoparticles, and its density gradient by adjusting time of
deposition and nature of the electric field applied.
In our work several model systems which include the substrate (Al, Cu,…) and various
nanoparticles (SiO2, ZrO2, TiO2) dispersed into aqueous or organic media, is investigated.
Preliminary results consist in getting stable colloidal suspension by measuring size and zeta
potential of particles by DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering). First deposits obtained from these
suspensions are examined under SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). The final aim of this work
would be to identify a new process of shaping selective coating in thermal solar collector.
To conclude, this work is mainly focussed on the understanding of shape parameters of
ceramic coatings on metal substrates via electrophoretic method.