One-step fabrication of nickel nanocones by electrodeposition using CaCl₂·2H₂O as capping reagent

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this research, a method for the fabrication of nickel nanocones through the addition of CaCl<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O to an electrodeposition solution was proposed. When electrodeposition was performed after CaCl<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O addition, precipitation of the Ni ions onto the (200) crystal face was suppressed and anisotropic growth of the nickel electrodeposited structures was promoted. Sharper nanocones were produced with increasing concentration of CaCl<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O added to the solution. Moreover, when temperature of the electrodeposition solutions approached 60°C, the apex angle of the nanostructures decreased. In addition, the nanocones produced were applied to superhydrophobic surface modification using a plasma-polymerized fluorocarbon (PPFC) coating. When the solution temperature was maintained at 60°C and the concentration of the added CaCl<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O was 1.2M or higher, the fabricated samples showed superhydrophobic surface properties. The proposed nickel nanocone formation method can be applied to various industrial fields that require metal nanocones, including superhydrophobic surface modification.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Nickel nanocones were formed using electrodeposition solution with CaCl<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O. </LI> <LI> Sharper nanocones were formed with increasing CaCl<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O concentration. </LI> <LI> Apex angles of nanocones decreased when solution temperature approached 60°C. </LI> <LI> The nickel nanocones assume a superhydrophobic surface after chemical treatment. </LI> </UL> </P>