Formation of nickel microcones by using an electrodeposition solution containing H3BO3

• Effects of H3BO3 on nickel electrodeposition were analyzed.
• Nickel microcones were produced using H3BO3-containing electrodeposition solution.
• Nickel microcones show superhydrophobic property after chemical treatment.

In this study, we fabricated the nickel microcones by using an electrodeposition solution containing boric acid (H3BO3). When electrodeposition was performed after H3BO3 had been added to the nickel electrodeposition solution, growth along the (200) direction of the nickel electrodeposition structure was suppressed while that along the (220) direction was promoted. Owing to this phenomenon, the addition of H3BO3 to the electrodeposition solution resulted in the formation of the microcones. The density of these microstructures appeared to be proportional to the concentration of H3BO3 added to the solution. Furthermore, when electrodeposition was performed using the solution containing H3BO3, sharper microcones was formed with lower applied current densities. In addition, microcones fabricated by using a solution containing 2 M H3BO3 under applied current densities of 1 or 2 mA/cm2 exhibited superhydrophobic surfaces after hydrophobic layer coating.