Fabrication of nanocrystalline nickel coatings by brush plating

Nanocrystalline nickel coatings were fabricated on smooth steel substrates using electric brush plating technology. The coatings were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as cationic surfactant is used to improve the surface morphologies of coatings. With the content of CTAB increasing in electrolyte, the size of microscale nodules consisting of nanoscale grains were reduced, (111) texture was formed, and the surface having totally single nanosized grains structure was prepared on the surface of brush plating coatings. The formation mechanisms of nickel coatings deposited were also analysed based on the process of deoxidisation, adsorbing and withdrawing.