Electroless Nickel Deposition Research Articles

Direct Writing of Reactive Inks Based on Electroless Nickel Deposition on Pure Aluminium Powders

Direct Writing of Reactive Inks Based on Electroless Nickel Deposition on Pure Aluminium Powders

Surface modification of perovskite‐type oxide LaFeO3 with electroless nickel deposition for application in MH‐Ni batteries

AbstractIn this study, the perovskite‐type oxide LaFeO3 is treated by electroless Ni deposition with different reaction time and the electrochemical properties of the resulting material are investigated as the anode for MH‐Ni batteries. XRD, SEM, and TEM measurements reveal a uniform deposition of crystalline nickel on the oxide surface and a clear increase in the amount of Ni coating with the deposition time. The electrochemical analysis shows that the electroless deposition can significantly improve the maximum discharge capacity of the battery. Furthermore, the coated electrodes exhibit excellent activation performance and superior cyclic stability. With the increase in the reaction temperature, improvements in the discharge ability, exchange current density, and diffusing coefficient of hydrogen are also observed.

Enhancing the Photoelectrochemical Performance of a Nanoporous Silicon Photocathode through Electroless Nickel Deposition.

Renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy, are key to our efforts to decarbonize. This study investigates the photoelectrochemical (PEC) behavior of nanoporous silicon (NPSi) and its Ni-coated hybrid system. The methods involve the application of a Ni coating to NPSi, a process aimed at augmenting catalytic activity, light absorption, and carrier transport. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the morphological changes on NPSi surfaces due to the Ni coating. Results demonstrate that the Ni coating creates unique structures on NPSi surfaces, with peak PEC performance observed at 15 min of coating time and 60 °C. These conditions were found to promote electron-hole pair separation and uniform Ni coverage. A continuous 50-min white light illumination experiment confirmed stable PEC fluctuations, showing the interplay of NPSi's characteristics and Ni's catalytic effect. This study provides practical guidance for the design of efficient water-splitting catalysts, contributing to the broader field of renewable energy conversion.

Contents

International Journal of Applied Ceramic TechnologyVolume 20, Issue 4 p. 2043-2046 ISSUE INFORMATIONFree Access Contents First published: 31 May 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/ijac.14090AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Graphical Abstract Cover Photograph: Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) powder with surface Ni plating has promising application in many fields. The cover image shows the progression of electroless nickel deposition on hollow spherical YSZ from uncoated materials (top row) through 120 minutes of deposition time. Read more about the experiments and kinetic modeling of this study in https://doi.org/10.1111/ijac.14347 Volume20, Issue4July/August 2023Pages 2043-2046 RelatedInformation

Surface modification of ABS polymer by electroless deposition of thin nickel film from a solution without reducing agent

ABSTRACT For preparation of acrylonitrile–butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymer, suitable for electrodeposition of a subsequent metal coating, a modification of the activated polymer surface by electroless nickel deposition in an alkaline nickel citrate-based solution without reducing agent is proposed. The influence of the main components of the solution and the working conditions on the mass of the nickel deposit has been studied. The modified surface was characterised using SEM, EDS and XPS analyses. The obtained nickel in oxidised state is sufficient to conduct current for subsequent electrodeposition of copper coating.

Study the effect of adding zirconia particles to nickel–phosphorus electroless coatings as product innovation on stainless steel substrate

Abstract Scholars have spent much time studying metal deposition procedures involving the deposition of electroless nickel, alloy, and composite coatings on various surfaces; the most current uses were feasible advantages of the coatings’ many good properties for achieving the final product innovation. Lately, these coatings have demonstrated intriguing wear and corrosion resistance features, resulting in several innovative macro-level developments. The notion of composite coating by co-deposition coating has been presented in this article. The characteristics of Ni–Pb alloy coatings were examined by inserting ZrO 2 {{\rm{ZrO}}}_{2} particles into the electroless deposited solution. The stainless steel (SS) specimens have been electroless coated with Ni–Pb and ZrO 2 {{\rm{ZrO}}}_{2} nanoparticles (size = 30–70 nm) at 0, 10, and 20 g/L amounts. The materials have been examined using scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope, followed by wear-resistant and microhardness testing. According to the investigation findings, including inert particles improved the hardness magnitude and wearing resistance considerably. The base metal exhibited the highest wear rate at 10 N, while the wear rate decreased in the Ni–Pb– ZrO 2 {{\rm{ZrO}}}_{2} -coated SS316L by 34%. The Vickers hardness magnitudes of the Ni–Pb– ZrO 2 {{\rm{ZrO}}}_{2} -coated samples at different ZrO 2 {{\rm{ZrO}}}_{2} contents (0, 10, and 20 g/L) were 19, 50, and 81%, respectively.

Enhanced Capacity and Cyclability of Si@NiSi2 Nanocomposite Anodes Fabricated by Facile Electroless Ni Plating

Although silicon (Si) has been proposed as the most promising anode material in lithium-ion batteries due to their high capacity (∼4000 mA h g–1), the poor cyclability resulting from the strain-induced pulverization caused by the severe volume change during charge/discharge hinders the industrial applications. Here, Si nanoparticles were conformally coated with either Ni, NiO, or NiSi2 to suppress the tremendous volume change of Si, hence leading to prolonging the cycle life of the Si anode to a different degree. Both Si@Ni and Si@NiO nanocomposites were synthesized by one-step self-reducing (SR) electroless nickel plating without/with heat treatment, respectively, whereas Si@NiSi2 nanocomposites were obtained by a two-step (SR + electroless nickel deposition, EN) process, followed by heat treatment. Among all these three nanocomposite anodes, Si@NiSi2 prepared by 5 min of SR, 30 min of EN, and 400 °C annealing in sequence achieved the highest capacity of ∼1390 mA h g–1 and the best capacity retention of ∼86.6% with a Coulombic efficiency of 99% over 70 cycles. For comparison, the capacity retention of the Si@Ni and Si@NiO electrode over 70 cycles is estimated to be ∼67 and 75%, respectively. These results suggest that NiSi2 could be a promising protective coating layer to effectively buffer the volume change of Si and promote the battery life.

Electrochromic Displays via the Room-Temperature Electrochemical Oxidation of Nickel.

Electrochromism refers to the persistent and reversible change in color by applying an electric field. The phenomenon involves the insertion and extraction of electrons and ions within the active material. There is a keen interest in electrochromic (EC) materials, since they exhibit a wide range of potential applications. In recent years, transition-metal oxides have been widely investigated as EC materials due to their low power requirement, high coloration efficiency, and memory effect under an open-circuit condition. Nickel oxide (NiO), a p-type wide band gap semiconductor, exhibits attractive features such as a high color contrast ratio, good chemical stability, cost-effectiveness, and good compatibility with the cathodically coloring tungsten oxide. NiO thin films have been fabricated by various methods, but these are not cost-effective, scalable, or suitable for flexible applications. With the increasing demand for flexible and soft EC devices, it is essential to find routes to fabricate NiO thin films at lower temperatures. In this work, a NiO/Ni(OH)2-based thin EC layer on fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated glass is developed via an electroless nickel (EN) deposition route, followed by room-temperature electrochemical oxidation. The deposition time is optimized to control the film thickness. The EC performance is investigated in an aqueous alkaline electrolyte (1 M KOH) by means of cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and transmittance measurements. Both the as-deposited and annealed films, after electrochemical oxidation, exhibit excellent EC properties with an optical modulation of approximately 64% (at 550 nm) and good response times of approximately 3 s (coloration) and 14 s (bleaching). A 2 × 2 display obtained by patterning the EN deposition is also demonstrated as part of this work.

Influence of Heat Treatment on Microhardness and Surface Roughness of Electroless Ni-YSZ Composite Coating

The application of heat treatment was introduced in Ni-YSZ composite coating as the incorporation of ceramic YSZ in electroless nickel deposition is new and worth investigating. In this paper, the influence of heat treatment by varying the heating temperature and time on the electroless Ni-YSZ composite coating is investigated. The Ni-YSZ composite is deposited onto a high-speed steel substrate via electroless nickel co-deposition. YSZ powder of mixed sizes of micro- and nano-sized of the ratio of 1:1 is incorporated in the electroless deposits. The electroless Ni-YSZ composites coating was heated up to 400oC for a maximum of 2 hours. The microhardness measurements were carried out using a Vickers microhardness tester (Shimadzu) according to ISO 6507-4. The surface roughness of the coating was measured using Mitutoyo surface roughness tester SJ-301. The surface characterisation was analysed using Cambridge Stereoscan 90 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX). The crystallographic structure of materials was analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) Bruker D8 Advance instrument. The microhardness and surface roughness of the coating both increase with time. The microhardness is directly proportional to the heating temperature and time and these observations are supported by the XRD analysis. The surface roughness observation is explained by the SEM micrographs.

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Nickel Coated Carbon Fibre Rod Reinforced Aluminium Metal Matrix Composite Material for using in Automobile Application

A carbon fibre (CF) in the form of a rod (continuous fibre) was used as reinforcement due to its superior strength and modulus properties. Carbon fibre rod reinforced aluminium 6061 alloy metal matrix composite material was synthesized using the stir casting liquid metallurgy route. Aluminium based metal matrix composite materials are light in weight. Very few researchers were worked on carbon fibre rod reinforced metal matrix composites (MMC). Electroless nickel deposition on carbon fibre rods (2mm and 3mm diameter) were carried out for improvement in wettability. On carbon fibre rods, the effectiveness of electroless nickel coating was validated using SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and EDAX (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy) analysis. A further coating thickness of nickel was improved using nickel electroplating. In a cast iron mould, nickel-coated carbon fibre rods were arranged in a circular pattern. Completely degassed molten aluminium 6061 alloy was poured in cast iron mould at 600-700 °C. The enhancement in Tribological and mechanical properties is always a prerequisite for technological advancement in automobile sector. From synthesized composites (11.11% Vol. CF and 25% Vol. CF reinforcement) specimen were prepared for density tests, bulk and microhardness tests, friction and wear tests. Synthesized composite has low density, increased bulk and microhardness, low coefficient of friction and reduced wear rate in comparison with aluminium 6061 alloy. Keywords: Carbon Fibre (CF) rod, MMC, Nickel coating, Casting, Mechanical, Tribological

Fabrication of Through-glass Vias (TGV) based 3D microstructures in glass substrate by a lithography-free process for MEMS applications

Fabrication of Through-glass Vias (TGV) based 3D microstructures in glass substrate by a lithography-free process is presented. Through-holes having an opening size of ∼ 300–500 µm and spiral-shaped embedded redistribution lines of ∼ 290 µm width and ∼ 50 µm depth were directly created in a 400 μm thick glass substrate by the electrochemical discharge machining. A 20 nm thick conformal seed layer was deposited by electroless nickel deposition, which can be a cost-effective alternative to vacuum-based physical vapor deposition techniques. The surface morphology of the electroless layer was characterized using an atomic force microscope and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Scotch-tape test showed a good adhesion of the seed layer with the glass substrate. Copper electrodeposition was performed to increase the thickness, after which thermal annealing was carried out to release the residual stress in the film. The adhesion of electrodeposited copper significantly improved after thermal annealing at 240 °C for 30 min. Electrodeposition is performed again to increase the thickness to the desired level. The current–voltage characterizations show good connectivity, and the average electrical resistance of a 3-turn square-shaped 3D microstructures is 2.41 Ω. Other spirals and square-shaped designs are also fabricated to prove the flexible capability of this ‘lithography-free’ technique.

Technology for Obtaining Sealing Abrasion Coatings by Electroless Deposition of Nickel on Boron Nitride Powder

Technology for Obtaining Sealing Abrasion Coatings by Electroless Deposition of Nickel on Boron Nitride Powder

Role of heat treatment on the friction and wear behavior of duplex electroless nickel deposits

In the present investigation, duplex electroless Ni-P/Ni-Cu-P and Ni-P/Ni–W-P coatings are deposited on mild steel specimens using the dual bath technique. Both the coatings are developed with Ni-P as the inner layer. The scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction techniques (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) are used to characterize the duplex coatings at pre and post-heat treatment state. Heat treatment is carried out at a temperature range between 200 °C and 800 °C. The surface morphology of the as-deposited coatings is nodular. Grain growth and grain boundaries are clearly visible in heat treated coatings. The EDX of Ni-P/Ni-Cu-P and Ni-P/Ni–W-P coating showed the phosphorus content as 12% and 9% respectively indicating high-P deposits. The copper and tungsten content of the coatings are 10% and 3% respectively. XRD analysis of both the as-deposited coatings indicate amorphous phase while heat-treated ones have crystalline phase structure. The crystalline structure increases the hardness of coating along with its wear resistance. The friction and wear behavior are assessed by a pin on disc tribometer. Overall, it can be seen that Ni-P/Ni–W-P system performs better compared to Ni-P/Ni-Cu-P in terms of friction and wear. However, heat treatment at higher temperature has negative impact on both the coatings as far as the tribological behavior is concerned.

Influence of mechanical deflector assisted electroless nickel deposits for wear resistance

This investigation reports the effect of mechanical deflector during coating on the mechanical properties of the Electroless Ni-P deposits. Micro hardness of the electroless Ni-P deposits was measured using shimadzu micro hardness measuring unit employing a diamond indenter and pin-on-disc wear tester was used to measure the wear resistance of the deposits. The characteristics of deposits produced in presence of mechanical deflector are found to be superior from those produced using conventional deposition techniques. Enhancement in properties are correlated with modified crystallinity and the conversion of Ni-P in to possible phosphides in the presence of mechanical deflector. It has been noticed that the coating efficiency has 30% hike with mechanical deflector. Annealing at 350ºC has reached the maximum hardness of 950 Hv and subsequent increase in wear resistance.

PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM/ELECTROLESS Ni-COATED SiC COMPOSITES - A REVIEW

The combination of properties of Al/SiC composites make them very attractive materials for applications in automotive and aerospace industries. Several techniques are used in developing Al/SiC composites but stir casting process is most commonly used because it is the simplest and cost effective technique. However, composites produced via stir casting suffer from limitations such as low wettability and inadequate bonding between the molten Al & SiC particulates and the formation of degrading interfacial products like aluminum carbide (Al4C3) which degrades the mechanical properties of the composite. Some of the techniques to improve Al-SiC wettability include addition of surface active elements such as magnesium, heat treatment of particles and application of metallic coating on the reinforcements before addition to the melt. Wetting agents alter the composition of the matrix alloy, while heat treatment of the reinforcement does not completely prevent the formation of Al4C3 when utilized. To reduce the direct interaction and promote wetting between reinforcements and molten aluminum during processing, the surface of SiC particulates can be modified by coating via oxidation, sol-gel and electroless processes. Of all these methods, electroless nickel deposition produces the best coatings with uniform thickness and adequate strength. In the present study, influence of electroless nickel-coating of SiC on the mechanical, corrosion and microstructural properties of Al/SiC composite has been evaluated. Finally, it can be concluded that the Ni and Ni3P intermetallic phases produced via electroless coating improves the wettability between the SiC and molten aluminium leading to enhanced properties of the composite.

Electroless metallisation of ABS polymer samples produced by different technologies

ABSTRACT In recent years, significant changes have occurred in the field of three-dimensional printing (3D-printing) and it has been applied both in the production of prototypes and in regular production in the following sectors: architecture, construction, automotive, aircraft, biotechnology, fashion, etc. Different technologies for 3D-printing are proposed. Between them, the technology FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) has the greatest application in the industry due to the low cost and simplified operations. This technology is suitable for 3D-printing of various polymers (PET, ABS, PLA, PETG, etc.), which after preliminary treatment can be metallised by electroless deposition in order to obtain an even metal coating. The present paper describes investigations of some properties of nickel or copper coatings, electroless deposited from two kinds of solutions on 3D-printed and on cast under pressure ABS samples. For deposition of electroless nickel or copper coatings with good adhesion, the influence of the pre-treatment operations was also evaluated in both cases upon deposition on 3D-printed ABS samples with different resolutions (0.8 or 0.25 mm,) and on cast under pressure ABS samples. The thickness of the deposited layers was determined gravimetrically; the morphology and the elemental composition of the layers were examined by SEM or EDS, respectively; the surface roughness of the ABS samples was measured by AFM, and the adhesion of the metal layers was evaluated by a standard test with an adhesive tape (type Test-Method ASTM D 3359-83).

Electrical Conductivity of Electroless Nickel/YSZ deposition for SOFC anode

The paper discusses on the electrical conductivity on nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) deposition for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode. The work measures the thickness of Ni-YSZ deposition onto substrate and the electrical conductivity of the anode of SOFC. The thickness of deposition is measured using digital micrometer while the conductivity is obtained by measuring resistance using Fluke multimeter. The factors in this work are particle size and particle condition and using Taguchi method to design the experiment in Minitab 19. It was found out that optimal parameter for high thickness of deposition and high conductivity is nano particle size and uncoated particle condition. The sample using optimal parameter were measured of its conductivity in SOFC environment using furnace up to 700°C. It shows that the optimum condition for SOFC anode is at 700°C to achieved high electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity performance of Ni/YSZ anode fabricated by electroless nickel deposition was found out comparable to previous study.

Characterization of Nickel-Cubic Boron Nitride Coating via Electroless Nickel Deposition on High Speed Steel and Carbide Substrates

Ceramic-metal surface coating is very well known for its high thermal, wear and corrosion resistance. The paper discussed on comparison of characterization of Nickel-cubic boron nitride (Ni-CBN) composite coating on two types of substrate. The substrates used are High Speed Steel (HSS) and Carbide due to good hardness, low cost and easily available. The composite Ni-CBN has been used in machining industries recently. It is desirable to get high ceramic of CBN to metal Ni ratio for corrosion, thermal and wear resistance. A sample of HSS and carbide substrate of CBN was used as the base for composite deposition. The surface coating of Ni-CBN was deposited via electroless nickel where the process of involved chemical reactions as the ceramic CBN powders was embedded within the coating. The characterization of the composite deposition was done by JSM-7800F Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX). The FESEM image proves that nano CBN powders were embedded in HSS substrate and distributed consistently on the coating surface.

Effect of Magnetic Field, Heat Treatment and Dry Wear Analysis on Electroless Nickel Deposits

This investigation reports the effect of magnetic field during coating on the mechanical properties of the electroless Ni–P deposits. Magnetic field strength has been varied between 0 and 3A. The heat treatment was found to be more responsive for the sintering temperature between 300 and 400 °C. Micro hardness of the electroless Ni–P deposits was measured with a diamond indenter. Magnetic method produced more hardness (above 1250 VHN) than the conventional method (below 1000 VHN). The amorphous phase to crystalline transformation happens at this range of sintering. The pin-on-disc wear tester was used to measure the wear resistance of the deposits. The coated sample has a maximum weight loss of 0.077 mg at the end of the wear test (after 35 min) and 0.052 mg for magnetic field sintered sample at the same condition. Subsequently, with respect to increase in sintering temperature, the weight loss found decreased from 0.077 to 0.051 mg for as coat to 350 °C, respectively. It is also noticed that, the specific wear rate is 0.062 (kg/Nm3) for magnetic field sintered sample and 0.119 (kg/Nm3) for conventional sample. The characteristics of deposits produced in presence of magnetic field were found to be superior from those produced using conventional deposition techniques. Magnetic field has doubled the performance than the conventional techniques. Enhancements in properties were correlated with modified crystallinity and the conversion of Ni–P in to possible phosphides in the presence of magnetic field.

Synthesis and electrochemical performance of silicon-nanowire alloy anodes.

High-capacity materials are required in order to address the environmental concerns of our modern society, ultimately leading to safe and eco-friendly high-energy batteries. Silicon-nanowire anodes (SiNWs) have the potential to significantly increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In order to improve the mechanical durability and the electrochemical performance of SiNW-anodes, we fabricated a silicon–nickel (SiNi) composite anode by electroless deposition of nickel, followed by annealing at high temperature to obtain nickel silicides of different content and composition. The morphology of SiNi-alloy anodes was examined by SEM, in situ TEM and EDS methods in order to understand how different deposition protocols affect the coating of the silicon nanowires. The formation of Ni-silicides was found to occur during thermal treatment at 900 °C. Despite the incomplete shell coverage of SiNWs composed of multiple phases and grains, the electrochemical performance of binder-free and conducting-additive-free SiNi-alloy anodes showed stable electrochemical behavior and higher capacity retention compared to the pristine SiNW anode. Li/SiNW–SiNix cells ran at C/2 rate for 200 reversible cycles, exhibiting 0.1%/cycle capacity loss after completion of the SEI formation.