Kβ-to-Kα X-ray intensity ratio studies on changes of valance electron structures of nickel in Ni–B/hBN composite coatings

In this study, Kβ/Kα X-ray intensity ratio values of nickel in Ni coating and Ni–B/hBN (hBN: hexagonal Boron Nitride) composite coatings have been determined by the Energy Dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF) method. The Kβ/Kα X-ray intensity ratios of nickel in the Ni coating and Ni–B/hBN composite coatings have been compared with theoretical, experimental, and fitted data of the pure nickel. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) measurements have been performed to observe how hBN particles with different bath concentrations affected the crystal structure and microstructure, respectively. The valence electronic structure of Ni in the coatings has been determined by comparing the experimental Kβ/Kα X-ray intensity ratios with Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock (MCDF) predictions for various electron structures of Ni. The results show that while the values of the Kβ/Kα X-ray intensity ratio of the Ni–B/hBN composite coatings over pure Ni coatings increases, the 3d electron populations decreases. The change in the valence electronic structure were interpreted through charge transfer and rearrangement processes. •Kβ/Kα X-ray intensity ratios of Ni in composite coatings were measured by EDXRF.•Changes in crystal structure and microstructure were determined using XRD and SEM.•Valence electronic structure was evaluated using the results of MCDF calculations.•3d electron number of Ni in composite coatings decreased over Ni in Ni coating.