Modeling the electroless nickel deposition on aluminum nanoparticles

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