Modeling the electroless nickel deposition on aluminum nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, Ni coated aluminum nanoparticles were fabricated by electroless nickel deposition. Effect<br><br>of two groups of parameters on the process plating rate were investigated: bath composition (main salt,<br><br>reducing agent and complexing agent concentration) and process parameters (pH, plating time and bath<br><br>temperature). Simulation of the process was performed using artificial neural network (ANN) media.<br><br>Based on the presented model it is possible to design a high efficiency electroless bath, while minimum<br><br>received materials are used and maximum plating rate is obtained. According to the model’s results,<br><br>0.07 mol/l NiSO4·2H2O, 0.245 mol/l NaH2PO2·H2O and 0.098 mol/l Na3C6H5O7·H2O were chosen as the<br><br>optimum electroless bath composition. The optimum bath parameters also were selected as pH of 9.5,<br><br>temperature of 80 ◦C and 30 min of plating. At such condition, the most efficient Ni deposition, with<br><br>maximum plating rate of 45%, was acquired on the surface of aluminum particles. These samples were<br><br>characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy<br><br>(EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that a low phosphorus and nanocrystalline Ni<br><br>layer, with about 30 nm thickness, has been coated on the aluminum nanoparticles.