Synthesis and characterization of electrodeposited nanocrystalline nickel

Nanocrystalline nickel was synthesized 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 similar to 50nm can be synthesized from saccharin-containing Watts-type baths with current density range 5 similar to 30A/dm(2). 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.