Electrocatalysis under Conditions of Ion Co-discharge with the Formation of an Alloy

The distribution of elements in Ni–Cr alloy deposits is studied with the use of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron Auger spectroscopy. Nickel is shown to catalyze the deposition of chromium, while chromium catalyzes the reduction of oxalates to carbon. The alloys have nanocrystal fcc structures based on nickel lattice. At a high chromium content (88 at. %), a phase with hexagonal lattice forms.