Effect of deposition time and potential on the nucleation and growth of nickel nano particles on nitrogen doped diamond-like carbon thin film

In this report, the effect of electro-deposition parameters (deposition time and deposition potential) on the growth of nickel nano particles (Ni NPs) on nitrogen doped diamond-like carbon (N-DLC) thin film has been investigated. The investigation parameters are 0.1 M Na2SO4 aqueous solution containing 4 mM NiSO4, the deposition period altering from 2 s to 60 s and the deposition potential ranging from − 1.1 V to − 1.4 V. Voltammetry and potential amperometry have been used to study the electrochemical process. The morphology and chemical composition of the NPs have been examined with atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is found that the growth of Ni NPs is accompanied by the continuous nucleation. The nucleus density and size of the NPs increase with the decrease of deposition potential. Thus the morphology of Ni NPs deposited on N-DLC film can be controlled through the deposition potential and time.