Electrocatalytic action of nano-SiO2 with electrodeposited nickel matrix

The present work focuses on the electrocatalytic effect of nano-SiO2 on nickel electrodeposition and chemical interaction between nano-SiO2 and nickel in composite coating. The electrochemical behavior from n-SiO2/Ni composite brush plating system and quick nickel solution are investigated using cyclic voltammetry. The interaction between n-SiO2 particles and matrix metal nickel is researched by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. The results show that the n-SiO2 take part in the electrode reaction during nickel electrocrystallization and can catalyze the nickel electrodeposition. The unsaturated bond of oxygen on n-SiO2 particles surface can capture some of the absorbed nickel atoms and form nickel–oxygen chemical bond. It is proved that the chemical binding interaction exists in the interface between nanoparticles surface and matrix metal nickel.