Neuromodulation is being recognized as “technology impacting on the neural interface” And noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is becoming an interesting alternative for this interface. Transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS) is emerging as an option in the field of neuromodulation as a technique that employs weak, pulsed current at different frequency ranges, inducing electrical fields that reach cortical and subcortical structures; however, little is known about its properties and mechanistic effects on electrical brain activity and how it can modulate its oscillatory patterns. Moreover, there is not clear understanding in how tPCS can affect cognition and behavior or its neurophysiological correlates as indexed by autonomic responses. This research looked at the mechanisms behind tPCS in four randomized clinical trials; the main aim of each experiment was to evaluate the effects of tPCS in quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and cognitive-behavioral testing by exploring different parameters of stimulation. Based in the findings obtained per experiment, tPCS can be defined as a safe and tolerable technique that modulates the power spectrum of qEEG signals by means of applied randomized frequencies in a pre-defined range, tPCS also facilitates connectivity in the area of influence by the electrical field and this has an impact on optimization of performance by decreasing reaction times (RT) in attention switching task and by facilitating wide-ranging network processing as in the case of arithmetic functioning. This work also delivered an insight about the potential that tPCS has for future clinical applications.

In gas metal arc welding (GMAW), metal transfer plays a crucial role in determining the quality of the resultant weld. In the present dissertation, a numerical model with advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques has been developed first in order to provide better numerical results. It includes a two-step projection method for solving the incompressible fluid flow; a volume of fluid (VOF) method for capturing free surface; and a continuum surface force (CSF) model for calculating surface tension. The Gauss-type current density distribution is assumed as the boundary condition for the calculation of the electromagnetic force. The droplet profiles, electric potential and velocity distributions within the droplet are calculated and presented for different metal transfer modes. The analysis is conducted to find the most dominant effects influencing the metal transfer behavior. Comparisons between calculated results and experimental results for metal transfer under constant current are presented and show good agreement. Then, our numerical model is used to study a proposed modified pulsed current gas metal arc welding. This novel modified pulsed current GMAW is introduced to improve the robustness of the welding process in achieving a specific type of desirable and repeatable metal transfer mode, i.e., one drop per pulse (ODPP) mode. This new technology uses a peak current lower than the transition current to prevent accidental detachment and takes advantage of the downward momentum of the droplet oscillation to enhance the detachment. The calculations are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in achieving the desired metal transfer process in comparison with conventional pulsed current GMAW. Also, the critical conditions for effective utilization of this proposed method are identified by the numerical simulation. The welding operational parameters and their ranges are also calculated and the calculated results further demonstrate the robustness of this new GMAW technique in achieving high quality welding.

Porous zeolite, carbon and aluminophosphate powders have been colloidally assembled and post-processed in the form of monoliths, flexible free standing films and coatings for gas separation and odor removal. Zeolite 13X monoliths with macroporosites up to 50 vol% and a high CO2 uptake were prepared by colloidal processing and sacrificial templating. The durability of silicalite-I supports produced in a binder-free form by pulsed current processing (PCP) were compared with silicalite-I supports produced using clay-binders and conventional thermal treatment. Long-term acid and alkali treatment of the silicalite-I substrates resulted in removal of the clay binder and broadened the size-distribution of the interparticle macropores. Furthermore, strong discs of hydrothermally treated beer waste (HTC-BW) were produced by PCP and the discs were activated by physical activation in CO2 at high temperatures. The activated carbon discs showed high strength up to 7.2 MPa while containing large volume of porosities at all length scales. PCP was further used to structure aluminomphosphate powders (AlPO4-17 and AlPO4-53) into strong functional monoliths. The aluminophosphate monoliths had strengths of 1 MPa, high CO2 uptake and were easy to regenerate. Zeolite Y, silicalite and ZSM5 were selected as potential zeolite adsorbents for removal of sulfur containing compound, e.g. ethyl mercaptan (EM) and propyl mercaptan (PM). A novel processing procedure was used to fabricate free-standing films and coatings of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) with a high content of nanoporous zeolite; 89 w/w% and 96 w/w%, respectively. Thin flexible free-standing films and coatings of zeolite-CNF on paperboards with thickness around 100 µm and 40 µm, respectively, were produced. Headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography- mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis showed that the zeolite-CNF films can efficiently remove considerable amount of odors below concentration levels that can be sensed by the human olfactory system. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 5: Manuscript.</p>

Ferritic stainless steel is typically used in the automotive industry to fabricate welded tube that is plastically deformed for flanging, bending and necking. The effect of welding parameters during autogenous gastungsten arc welding (GTAW) of thin sheet on the weld metal structure and tensile properties were determined. Two grades of ferritic stainless steels, a titanium-containing Grade 441 and a titanium-free molybdenum-containing Grade 436, were used as base metal. Statistical analysis was used to determine the influence of welding parameters on the microstructure of autogenous GTAW welds. The results of Grade 441 indicated that the welding speed and peak welding current had a statistically significant influence on the amount of equiaxed grains that formed. For Grade 436, the same welding parameters (welding speed and peak welding current) had a statistically significant influence on the grain size of the weld metal grains. The ductility of a tensile test coupon machined parallel to the weld direction, for both base metal grades, was unaffected by the welding parameters or the weld metal microstructure. The elongation was determined by the amount of weld metal in the gauge area of a tensile coupon. The titanium content of the base material seems to have the most significant effect on the formation of equiaxed grains. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans un projet de grande envergure piloté par l’IRT M2P, intitulé « Hard Chrome by Trivalent Chromium » qui regroupe 15 partenaires industriels et 2 partenaires académiques. L’objectif principal est de substituer les composés du chrome hexavalent par des électrolytes à base de chrome trivalent dans les procédés de chromage « dur », en réponse à l’application du règlement européen REACH en septembre 2017, même si des demandes d’autorisations temporaires sont en cours. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, des études électrochimiques ont été réalisées sur des bains commercial et synthétique. Celles-ci ont conduit au choix d’un matériau jouant le rôle d’anode, à une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes mis en jeu et de ce fait à une optimisation des conditions d’utilisation du bain commercial. D’autre part, une étude approfondie des courbes transitoires permet de mieux appréhender le comportement des électrolytes de chrome trivalent vis-à-vis des courants pulsés. Ainsi, un plan d’expérience sur les paramètres des pulses avec pour sortie de multiples caractérisations des dépôts de chrome montre que les courants pulsés influent sur plusieurs propriétés telles que : la teneur en carbone, la structure cristalline, la microdureté, la morphologie de surface et la microfissuration. Grâce au traitement des données issues du plan d’expériences, l’optimisation des paramètres de polarisation aboutit à l’élaboration de séquences de pulses optimisées. L’utilisation de celles-ci, employées seules ou en combinaison avec d’autres séquences de pulses issues également du plan d’expériences, aboutit à l’obtention de dépôts de chrome trivalent dont les propriétés sont modulables en fonction des paramètres procédés. Dans l’optique de la mise en place d’une nouvelle stratégie de choix des paramètres de l’impulsion anodique, un dispositif permettant la mesure du pH local en fonction des séquences et à proximité immédiate de la surface a été élaboré. Les premières tendances confirment les modes d’action des courants pulsés, et les choix qui ont été faits pour l’optimisation. / This thesis work is part of an ambitious project handled by IRT M2P, named “Hard Chrome by Trivalent Chromium” which gathers 15 industrials partners but also 2 academic partners. The main objective is to substitute the hexavalent chromium compounds in hard chromium electroplating process before there ban by European instances (REACH, ECHA) in September 2017, excepted for those authorized. As part of this thesis, electrochemical studies were realized on commercial and synthetic baths. Thanks to this studies, a material has been chosen to act as an anode for the making of the trivalent chromium coatings ; furthermore, the utilization conditions of the commercial bath has been optimized. Moreover, another study based on transient curves allows a better comprehension of the behaviour of the trivalent chromium electrolytes regarding pulsed current. This work permitted the elaboration of pulse sequences in the form of an experimental design. The realization and characterization of trivalent chromium coatings as a part of the experimental design show that pulsed current have an effect on several properties of the coatings such as carbon content, crystalline structure, microhardness, surface morphologies an microcracking. Thanks to the analyses of the results from the experimental design, an optimization of pulsed current has been made to obtain optimized pulse sequences. The utilization of those pulse sequences, used alone or combine with some pulse sequences of the experimental design lead to the elaboration of trivalent chromium coatings which properties are adjustables depending on the set parameters of the process. To further optimize the properties of the coatings, the basis of an analysis tool based on local pH measurements are developed; this analysis tool must make it possible to select the most interesting pulse sequences for the realization of trivalent chromium coatings.

Inorganic porous materials are widely used in a number of applications, where is a need to functionalize and produce materials with a multiscale porosity. The first part of the thesis describes how a novel and facile powder processing approach, using pulsed current processing (PCP) or, as it is commonly called, spark plasma sintering (SPS), has been employed to produce mechanically stable, hierarchically porous bodies from different porous powders. Surfactant-templated mesoporous spheres were PCP-treated to yield meso/macro porous monoliths. The bimodal pore size can be tailored by choice of templating molecules in the aerosol-assisted synthesis process and by the particle size of the spheres. Diatomite powders were used to produce macro/macroporous monoliths. The densification behaviour of this inexpensive and renewable macroporous raw material was evaluated in detail, and an optimum temperature range was identified where the PCP process yields mechanically strong monoliths. Binder-less, hierarchically porous zeolite monoliths were produced from various zeolite powders, e.g. silicalite-1, ZSM-5 and zeolite Y. Line-broadening analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data by the Rietveld method and electron microscopy showed that the formation of strong interparticle bonds during the PCP process is associated with a local amorphization reaction that is induced by the high contact stress and temperature. Xylene isomerisation studies showed that binder-less ZSM-5 monoliths display a high catalytic selectivity. Direct (in-situ) nanoparticle functionalization of surfactant templated mesoporous silica particles has also been demonstrated. Pre-synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles were dispersed in a precursor solution, containing surfactant and silica source, and processed in an aerosol-generator to produce spherical nanoparticle-functionalized mesoporous particles.

Les mémoires non-volatiles à grille flottante sont utilisées pour le stockage d'information sous la forme d'une charge électrique contenue dans la grille flottante d'un transistor. Le comportement de ces dispositifs mémoire est fortement lié aux propriétés de leur oxyde tunnel, qui permet à la fois le passage de cette charge lors d'opérations de programmation ainsi que sa rétention en l'absence d'alimentation électrique. Au cours de ce travail, des mesures de courant tunnel ont été réalisées sur des capacités semiconducteur-oxyde-semiconducteur de grande surface représentatives de la zone d'injection des cellules mémoire. L'application de pulses courts sur la grille de ces structures de test, au cours desquels le courant peut être mesuré en temps réel, a permis de mettre en évidence les principales propriétés transitoires et stationnaires pouvant affecter le fonctionnement des dispositifs mémoire. L'effet de la dégradation des oxydes tunnel, qui impacte le comportement des cellules mémoire lors des opérations de programmation et de la rétention, a été observé et interprété dans le cas d'un stress à tension constante. Les résultats obtenus sur les capacités de grande surface ont pu être utilisés dans le cadre d'une modélisation de cellules EEPROM. / Floating gate non-volatile memory devices are used to store data under the form of an electric charge contained in the floating gate of a transistor. The behavior of these memory devices is strongly linked to the properties of their tunnel oxide, which allows the transit of this charge during write/erase operations as well as its retention while the transistor is not polarized. During this work, tunneling current measurements have been performed on large area semiconductor-oxide-semiconductor capacitors that are representative of the injection zone of memory cells. The application of short pulses to the gates of these test structures, during which the current can be measured as a function of time, allowed the observation of the main transient and steady-state properties that can affect the functioning of memory devices, The effect of tunnel oxide degradation, which impacts the behavior of memory cells during write/erase operations as well as data retention, has been observed and interpreted in the case of a constant voltage stress. The results obtained on large area capacitors have been used to model EEPROM cells.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Revestimentos produzidos a partir de ligas de Zn-Co são comumente utilizados em indústrias (aeronáutica, de isoladores elétricos e automobilística, por exemplo) devido à sua ótima resistência à corrosão, principalmente quando comparados aos tradicionais revestimentos de Zn puro. Na co-deposição de zinco com metais, como o ferro, cobalto e níquel, ocorre o que se chama de deposição anômala, onde o metal menos nobre (zinco) é preferencialmente depositado, independente do modo de corrente aplicada (contínua ou pulsada). Recentemente, diversos trabalhos relacionam a produção de eletrodepósitos de liga Zn-Co a partir de banhos ambientalmente não agressivos, a fim de substituir os banhos alcalinos extremamente tóxicos, a base de cianeto. Na presente dissertação foram produzidos revestimentos de ligas de Zn-Co sobre substrato de aço carbono, empregando corrente contínua ou corrente pulsada simples, a partir de banhos contendo diferentes concentrações de Co2+ (0,05 mol/L e 0,10mol/L), 0,05 mol/l de Zn2+ e citrato de sódio (0,10 mol/L) como agente complexante, sob condições agitadas. Quatro diferentes valores de densidade de corrente (10 A/m2, 20 A/m2, 40 A/m2 e 80 A/m2) e de frequência de pulso (100 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz) foram aplicados para a produção da liga a partir dos dois banhos, tendo como objetivo avaliar a influência dos parâmetros de deposição(concentração de Co (II), densidade de corrente aplicada e, no caso de deposição por corrente pulsada simples, também da frequência de pulso), nas variáveis eficiência de corrente catódica, composição da liga, densidade de corrente de corrosão, microestrutura e morfologia dos depósitos de liga Zn-Co. As cores das camadas obtidas variaram do cinza claro ao escuro, quase sempre sem brilho, independente do modo de corrente empregado. Foi verificado que o processo normal de eletrodeposição foi prevalente na produção de revestimentos por corrente contínua, enquanto que apenas deposição anômala foi observada quando do uso de corrente pulsada. A maior eficiência de corrente catódica (60%) foi obtida, para corrente contínua, nas condições de menor concentração de Co2+ (0,05 mol/L) e maior densidade de corrente (80 A/m2). Nestas mesmas condições foi determinada uma eficiência de corrente catódica de 98% para corrente pulsada simples na freqüência de 2000 Hz. Maiores teores do metal mais nobre (cobalto) foram alcançados em maiores densidades de corrente para todas as condições empregadas. Os revestimentos assim obtidos apresentavam os menores valores de tamanho de grão, para cada uma das soluções estudadas. Os demais parâmetros estudados também influenciaram na granulometria e na morfologia das ligas obtidas. Revestimentos com melhor resistência à corrosão, contendo teores de cobalto entre aproximadamente 8 e 10% m/m, foram produzidos a partir do banho com maior concentração de Co2+, sob corrente pulsada simples / Zn-Co alloys coatings are commonly used in the industry (aerospace, automotive and electrical insulators, for example) due to their great corrosion resistance, mainly when compared to pure zinc coatings. In the zinc co-deposition with different metals, such as iron, cobalt or nickel, it is observed an anomalous deposition, in which the less noble metal (zinc) is preferably deposited, regardless the current type applied (direct or pulsed). Recently, several studies relate the production of electrodeposited Zn-Co alloys from environmentally non-aggressive baths to substitute the extremely toxic cyanide-based alkaline baths. In this dissertation, Zn-Co alloy coatings were produced on carbon steel substrate using direct or simple pulsed currents, from baths with different Co2+ concentrations (0.05 mol/L and 0.10 mol/L), 0.10 mol/L of Zn2+and sodium citrate (0.10 mol/L) as a complexing agent, under stirring. Four different current densities values (10 A/m2, 20 A/m2, 40 A/m2 and 80 A/m2) and four different pulse frequencies values (100 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz) were applied in order to obtain the alloys from both baths, aiming to assess the influence of the deposition parameters (Co (II) concentration, current density applied, and also pulse frequency, for the simple pulsed current process) in the variables cathodic current efficiency, alloy composition, current corrosion density, and Zn-Co alloy deposit microstructure and morphology. The obtained layers colours varied from light to dark grey, normally dull, regardless the current type used. Normal electrodeposition process was predominant when direct current was used, whereas only anomalous deposition was observed when using pulsed current. The highest cathodic current efficiency (60%) was obtained in direct current for the lowest Co2 + concentration (0.05 mol / L). Under these same conditions it was determined a cathodic current efficiency of 98% for single pulsed current, employing the frequency of 2000 Hz Higher content of the noblest metal (cobalt) were achieved for higher current densities for all conditions studied. These coatings presented the smallest grain sizes, for each of the evaluated solutions. The other studied parameters have also influenced in the granulometry and the morphology of the obtained alloys. Coatings presenting the best corrosion resistance, showing the cobalt content between 8 and 10% m/m, were obtained from the highest Co2+ concentration bath, using simple pulsed current

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Revestimentos produzidos a partir de ligas de Zn-Co são comumente utilizados em indústrias (aeronáutica, de isoladores elétricos e automobilística, por exemplo) devido à sua ótima resistência à corrosão, principalmente quando comparados aos tradicionais revestimentos de Zn puro. Na co-deposição de zinco com metais, como o ferro, cobalto e níquel, ocorre o que se chama de deposição anômala, onde o metal menos nobre (zinco) é preferencialmente depositado, independente do modo de corrente aplicada (contínua ou pulsada). Recentemente, diversos trabalhos relacionam a produção de eletrodepósitos de liga Zn-Co a partir de banhos ambientalmente não agressivos, a fim de substituir os banhos alcalinos extremamente tóxicos, a base de cianeto. Na presente dissertação foram produzidos revestimentos de ligas de Zn-Co sobre substrato de aço carbono, empregando corrente contínua ou corrente pulsada simples, a partir de banhos contendo diferentes concentrações de Co2+ (0,05 mol/L e 0,10mol/L), 0,05 mol/l de Zn2+ e citrato de sódio (0,10 mol/L) como agente complexante, sob condições agitadas. Quatro diferentes valores de densidade de corrente (10 A/m2, 20 A/m2, 40 A/m2 e 80 A/m2) e de frequência de pulso (100 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz) foram aplicados para a produção da liga a partir dos dois banhos, tendo como objetivo avaliar a influência dos parâmetros de deposição(concentração de Co (II), densidade de corrente aplicada e, no caso de deposição por corrente pulsada simples, também da frequência de pulso), nas variáveis eficiência de corrente catódica, composição da liga, densidade de corrente de corrosão, microestrutura e morfologia dos depósitos de liga Zn-Co. As cores das camadas obtidas variaram do cinza claro ao escuro, quase sempre sem brilho, independente do modo de corrente empregado. Foi verificado que o processo normal de eletrodeposição foi prevalente na produção de revestimentos por corrente contínua, enquanto que apenas deposição anômala foi observada quando do uso de corrente pulsada. A maior eficiência de corrente catódica (60%) foi obtida, para corrente contínua, nas condições de menor concentração de Co2+ (0,05 mol/L) e maior densidade de corrente (80 A/m2). Nestas mesmas condições foi determinada uma eficiência de corrente catódica de 98% para corrente pulsada simples na freqüência de 2000 Hz. Maiores teores do metal mais nobre (cobalto) foram alcançados em maiores densidades de corrente para todas as condições empregadas. Os revestimentos assim obtidos apresentavam os menores valores de tamanho de grão, para cada uma das soluções estudadas. Os demais parâmetros estudados também influenciaram na granulometria e na morfologia das ligas obtidas. Revestimentos com melhor resistência à corrosão, contendo teores de cobalto entre aproximadamente 8 e 10% m/m, foram produzidos a partir do banho com maior concentração de Co2+, sob corrente pulsada simples / Zn-Co alloys coatings are commonly used in the industry (aerospace, automotive and electrical insulators, for example) due to their great corrosion resistance, mainly when compared to pure zinc coatings. In the zinc co-deposition with different metals, such as iron, cobalt or nickel, it is observed an anomalous deposition, in which the less noble metal (zinc) is preferably deposited, regardless the current type applied (direct or pulsed). Recently, several studies relate the production of electrodeposited Zn-Co alloys from environmentally non-aggressive baths to substitute the extremely toxic cyanide-based alkaline baths. In this dissertation, Zn-Co alloy coatings were produced on carbon steel substrate using direct or simple pulsed currents, from baths with different Co2+ concentrations (0.05 mol/L and 0.10 mol/L), 0.10 mol/L of Zn2+and sodium citrate (0.10 mol/L) as a complexing agent, under stirring. Four different current densities values (10 A/m2, 20 A/m2, 40 A/m2 and 80 A/m2) and four different pulse frequencies values (100 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz) were applied in order to obtain the alloys from both baths, aiming to assess the influence of the deposition parameters (Co (II) concentration, current density applied, and also pulse frequency, for the simple pulsed current process) in the variables cathodic current efficiency, alloy composition, current corrosion density, and Zn-Co alloy deposit microstructure and morphology. The obtained layers colours varied from light to dark grey, normally dull, regardless the current type used. Normal electrodeposition process was predominant when direct current was used, whereas only anomalous deposition was observed when using pulsed current. The highest cathodic current efficiency (60%) was obtained in direct current for the lowest Co2 + concentration (0.05 mol / L). Under these same conditions it was determined a cathodic current efficiency of 98% for single pulsed current, employing the frequency of 2000 Hz Higher content of the noblest metal (cobalt) were achieved for higher current densities for all conditions studied. These coatings presented the smallest grain sizes, for each of the evaluated solutions. The other studied parameters have also influenced in the granulometry and the morphology of the obtained alloys. Coatings presenting the best corrosion resistance, showing the cobalt content between 8 and 10% m/m, were obtained from the highest Co2+ concentration bath, using simple pulsed current

Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire ont pour but de mieux comprendre l’électrodéposition de revêtements nanocomposites et d’approfondir leur caractérisation. Le système étudié est un revêtement de zinc renforcé par des nanoparticules de cérine. Les dépôts de zinc sont élaborés par électrodéposition en courant continu et pulsé dans un bain ammonium chlorure dans lequel sont introduites des nanoparticules de cérine commerciales de 50 nm de diamètre. A l’issue d’une phase d’optimisation, des conditions de bain particulières caractérisées par un pH basique et l’utilisation d’un surfactant anionique ont ainsi été sélectionnées afin de s’assurer d’une suffisante stabilité de la suspension. L’influence des nanoparticules sur les mécanismes et rendements d’électrodéposition est étudiée. Une caractérisation précise des revêtements élaborés en courant continu a été développée au moyen de diverses techniques (MEB-EDS, DRX, SIMS, SDL, MET). Cette approche multi-disciplinaire a pour but d’évaluer l’incorporation de cérine dans le composite et localiser celle-ci dans l’épaisseur, approche originale et novatrice dans le domaine des revêtements composites à matrice zinc. Les nanoparticules influencent les propriétés des revêtements, avec une augmentation de dureté jusqu’à quarante pourcents. L’impact sur le comportement à la corrosion est mineur mais une amélioration en immersion longue durée est observée. Dans le but d’augmenter plus drastiquement l’incorporation et donc les propriétés, une modification de la morphologie du zinc parait indispensable. Dans cette optique, une démarche d’élaboration en courants pulsés a été conduite avec des résultats limités du fait de la forte influence des particules sur les mécanismes de germination/croissance en pulsés. L’utilisation d’un élément d’alliage tel le nickel est une perspective encourageante pour obtenir des revêtements composites aux propriétés optimisées. / The work presented within this thesis aims to better understand the electrodeposition of nanocomposite coatings and to improve their characterization. The system studied is a zinc coating reinforced by nanoparticles of ceria (50 nm in size). Zinc coatings are produced by DC and PC electroplating from an ammonium chloride bath in which the commercial ceria nanoparticles were introduced. Following an optimization stage, specific bath conditions with a alcaline pH and the use of an anionic surfactant have been selected to ensure sufficient stability of the suspension. The influence of nanoparticles on the mechanisms and plating efficiency is studied. A deep characterization of coatings was performed using various techniques (SEM-EDS, XRD, SIMS, GDOES, TEM). This plural approach aims to assess the dispersion of ceria in the composite surface and bulk, which leads to an original and innovative approach in the field of zinc matrix composite coatings. Nanoparticles influence the properties of coatings, increasing hardness up to forty percent. The impact on the corrosion behavior is minor but a slight improvement in long-term immersion is observed. In order to increase more drastically the incorporation of ceria and therefore properties of the resulting coating, change in the morphology of the zinc seems essential. In this context, an approach developed towards pulsed currents was conducted with limited results because of the strong influence of particles on the mechanisms of germination / growth. The use of an alloying element such as nickel is a promising prospect for composite coatings with optimal properties.