Fabrication of micro-Ni arrays by electroless and electrochemical depositions with etched porous aluminum template

Nickel micro-arrays were fabricated by electroless and electrochemical deposition in an etched porous aluminum membrane. The aluminum membrane with metal characteristic could be fabricated from high-purity aluminium by electrochemical method. The aluminum reduced Ni2+ into Ni and the formed Ni nuclei served as the catalyst for further reduction of Ni2+ in electroless solution. With the help of the membrane, nickel micro-columns of about 1–2 μm diameter were obtained. The surface-deposited nickel layer served as a substrate for the nickel micro-columns, and the resulting material possessed strong mechanical strength. Electrochemical deposition was operated without preparing a conductive layer on the template due to the conductivity of the aluminum membrane. Nickel micro-tubes with an outer diameter of about 1–2 μm and a wall thickness in the order of tens of nm were obtained. The nickel micro-arrays were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).