The effect of bath temperature on the crystallite size and microstructure of Ni-CeO2 nanocomposite coating

► The Ni-CeO2 nanocomposite has been produced by a high energy ball milling technique. ► The crystallite size of Ni decreases up to a critical temperature of 45 °C and beyond this bath temperature the crystalline size of Ni again increases. ► The hardness of the nanocomposite coating increases with the increase of a bath temperature of 45 °C.