The study on crystal structure of Ni deposits plated in supercritical CO 2 method

Recently, the results of an electrodeposition of nickel showed that the coating plated in supercritical carbon dioxide, Sc-CO ₂ , emulsion has smaller grain size, higher hardness, excellent coverage, low surface roughness and pinhole-free microstructure over its conventional counterpart. It was found that, even without the addition of surfactant in the electrolyte, similar improvement over the coating properties was also obtained. However, the presence of surfactant in the Sc-CO ₂ electrolyte resulted in a predominant preferred {111} texture. Meanwhile, adjusting boric acid up to 15 g/L and decreasing current density to 5 A/dm ² resulted in more preferred {111} Ni crystalline as well. In addition, the use of pulse current in the Sc-CO ₂ electroplating further modified Ni crystal from {200} to {111} orientation.