Electrodeposition and corrosion behavior of nanostructured Ni-TiN composite films

The Ni-TiN nanocomposite film was successfully electrodeposited on brass copper substrates. The microstructures of the Ni-TiN nanocomposite film were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Its average grain size was analyzed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), and its anti-corrosion property was studied through potentiodynamic scanning curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the morphology of Ni-TiN composite film is sensitively dependent on the electroplating current density, TiN nanoparticle concentration, solution stirring speed, bath temperature and pH value of solution. The average grain size of the optimized nanocomposite film is about 50 nm. Meanwhile, the Ni-TiN nanocomposite films are much more resistant to corrosion than pure Ni coatings.