Method to produce metal matrix nanocomposite

Abstract

A method for coating a substrate includes disposing a deposition composition in a container. The deposition composition includes a plurality of nanosheets and a metal material. The method also includes disposing a substrate in the container, contacting the substrate with the deposition composition, applying a voltage to the substrate, electrodepositing, on the substrate, a coating that includes a metal from metal ions and the nanosheets in response to biasing the substrate at the first potential.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for coating a substrate, the method comprising:
 disposing a deposition composition in a container, the deposition composition comprising:
 a plurality of nanosheets, the nanosheets having an anionic functional group comprising a sulfonic acid group, a carboxyl group, a phosphoric acid group, a phosphorous acid group, a phosphinic acid group, or a combination thereof, and a cationic functional group, wherein a number of the cationic functional groups is larger than a number of the anionic functional groups such that the nanosheets have a positive charge; and 
 a metal material to produce metal ions in the deposition composition; 
   disposing a substrate in the container;   contacting the substrate with the deposition composition;   applying a voltage between the substrate and a counter electrode, the substrate being a cathode, and the counter electrode being an anode;   electrodepositing, on the substrate, a coating comprising:
 a metal from the metal ions; and 
   the nanosheets.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disposing a reference electrode in the container. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal comprises Al, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Cr, Fe, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Sn, Ti, V, W, Zn, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanosheets comprise graphene, graphene oxide, metal oxide, metal nitride, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the nanosheets further comprise a functional group comprising carboxy, epoxy, ether, ketone, amine, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, lactone, functionalized polymeric or oligomeric groups, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deposition composition further comprises a buffer, a surfactant, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises aluminum, cobalt, copper, chromium, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, zirconium, silicon, zinc, a rare earth element, a metal alloy thereof, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deposition composition is an aqueous fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deposition composition is a nonaqueous fluid comprising an ionic liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a ratio of a number of moles of the metal material to a number of moles of the ionic liquid is greater than or equal to 1. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deposition composition further comprises an ionic liquid which comprises imidazolium, pyrazolium, pyridinium, ammonium, pyrrolidinium, sulfonium, phosphonium, morpholinium, a derivative thereof, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanosheets are present in the coating in an amount from 0.001 wt % to 10 wt %, based on the weight of the nanosheets and the metal in the coating. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage is a DC voltage. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage is a pulsed voltage. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the deposition composition is from 2 to 6. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the deposition composition is from 15° C. to 90° C., specifically. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the coating is from 10 nm to 200 nm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanosheets are oriented parallel to a proximate surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanosheets are oriented obliquely to a proximate surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising changing the voltage, the metal material, the plurality of nanosheets, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, to form a plurality of different coatings on the substrate. 
     
     
         21 . A method for coating a substrate, the method comprising:
 disposing a deposition composition in a container, the deposition composition comprising:
 a plurality of nanosheets; 
 a metal material to produce metal ions in the deposition composition; and 
 a reducing agent; 
   disposing a substrate in the container;   contacting the substrate with the deposition composition;   reducing the metal material with the reducing agent to form, on the substrate, a coating comprising:
 a metal from the metal ions; and 
 the nanosheets. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein an anode is not present.