Corrosion behavior of Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/ZrO2 nanocomposite thin films

The addition of alumina and zirconia nanoparticles into nickel plating bath induces changes in the surface morphology and in the preferred crystallographic orientation of the nanocomposite thin layers electrodeposited on cooper substrates. The typical morphology for nickel deposits is pyramidal, but the addition of alumina particles in concentrations between 5 g/1 and 10 g/1 changes this morphology to hemispherical. The behavior of prepared Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/ZrO2 nanocomposite thin layers during corroding process in various solutions was investigated by using polarization curve, impedance spectroscopy, and Mott-Schottky techniques. The experimental results indicate the beneficial roles of alumina and zirconia nanoparticles on nanocomposite materials.