Electrochemical behavior of Tm3+ ion and cyclic electrodeposition of a Tm–Co alloy film in dimethylsulfoxide

Cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry were used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of Tm3+ ion in the 0.01 mol dm−3 Tm(NO3)3/0.1 mol dm−3 LiClO4/DMSO system on a Pt electrode. The experimental results indicated that the reduction of Tm3+ ion was irreversible. Some electrochemical parameters were measured. The cyclic potential deposition technique was used to prepare Tm–Co alloy films. In a nonaqueous system, we first reported the preparation of rare earths and their alloy films by cyclic electrodeposition. The surfaces of Tm–Co alloy films observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were uniform, adhesive, compact and showed a metallic luster. Tm–Co alloy film was amorphous as proven by the X-ray diffraction (XRD).