Synthesis and Characterization of Electrodeposited Nanocrystalline Nickel

Nanocrystalline nickel was synthesize d by direct current electrodeposition from a modified Watts-type bath. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope were used to characterize the microstructure of nickel deposits. The results show that nanocrytalline nickel with grain sizes in the range 20～50nm can be synthesized from saccharin-containing Watts-type baths with current density range 5～30A/dm2. There existed preferred orientation in the deposits and it changed progressively from a (200) fibre texture to a (111) (200) double fibre texture as saccharin concentration increased. The hardness of the deposits increased prominently as grain size decreased to nanometer range.