A method for coating a substrate comprising: disposing a deposition composition in a container, the deposition composition comprising: a plurality of nanosheets; 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, the method characterized in that the nanosheets comprise graphene, graphene oxide, metal oxide, metal nitride, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and wherein the nanosheets are functionalized with: a cationic functional group comprising a quaternary ammonium group, a quaternary phosphonium group, a tertiary sulfonium group, an alkyl pyridinium group, or a combination thereof; or an anionic functional group, the anionic functional group comprising sulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, phosphinic acid, or a combination thereof, and a cationic functional group comprising a quaternary ammonium group, a quaternary phosphonium group, a tertiary sulfonium group, an alkyl pyridinium group, or a combination thereof, wherein a number of cationic functional groups is larger than a number of anionic functional groups such that the nanosheets have a positive charge and move towards the cathode. a plurality of nanosheets; 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, the method characterized in that the nanosheets comprise graphene, graphene oxide, metal oxide, metal nitride, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and wherein the nanosheets are functionalized with: a cationic functional group comprising a quaternary ammonium group, a quaternary phosphonium group, a tertiary sulfonium group, an alkyl pyridinium group, or a combination thereof; or an anionic functional group, the anionic functional group comprising sulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, phosphinic acid, or a combination thereof, and a cationic functional group comprising a quaternary ammonium group, a quaternary phosphonium group, a tertiary sulfonium group, an alkyl pyridinium group, or a combination thereof, wherein a number of cationic functional groups is larger than a number of anionic functional groups such that the nanosheets have a positive charge and move towards the cathode. a metal from the metal ions; and the nanosheets, the method characterized in that the nanosheets comprise graphene, graphene oxide, metal oxide, metal nitride, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and wherein the nanosheets are functionalized with: a cationic functional group comprising a quaternary ammonium group, a quaternary phosphonium group, a tertiary sulfonium group, an alkyl pyridinium group, or a combination thereof; or an anionic functional group, the anionic functional group comprising sulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, phosphinic acid, or a combination thereof, and a cationic functional group comprising a quaternary ammonium group, a quaternary phosphonium group, a tertiary sulfonium group, an alkyl pyridinium group, or a combination thereof, wherein a number of cationic functional groups is larger than a number of anionic functional groups such that the nanosheets have a positive charge and move towards the cathode. a cationic functional group comprising a quaternary ammonium group, a quaternary phosphonium group, a tertiary sulfonium group, an alkyl pyridinium group, or a combination thereof; or an anionic functional group, the anionic functional group comprising sulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, phosphinic acid, or a combination thereof, and a cationic functional group comprising a quaternary ammonium group, a quaternary phosphonium group, a tertiary sulfonium group, an alkyl pyridinium group, or a combination thereof, wherein a number of cationic functional groups is larger than a number of anionic functional groups such that the nanosheets have a positive charge and move towards the cathode.