The influence of Ni content on the characteristics of C-Ni thin films

► Accurate control of the composition within the coatings. ► The Ni/(Ni + C) ratio within the films varied between 5.8% and 62%. ► Presence of rhombohedral Ni3C crystallites in the nanometre scale. ► Coating morphologies are influenced by Ni content. ► Large range of the electrical resistivity of the coatings (5 · 10−3 ÷ 6 · 10−6 Ω m).