Additive printing of pure nanocrystalline nickel thin films using room environment electroplating

Given its high temperature stability, oxidation-, corrosion- and wear-resistance, and ferromagnetic properties, Nickel (Ni) is one of the most technologically important metals. This article reports that pure and nanocrystalline (Ni) films with excellent mechanical and magnetic properties can be additively printed at room environment without any high-temperature post-processing. The printing process is based on a nozzle-based electrochemical deposition from the classical Watt's bath. The printed Ni film showed a preferred (220) and (111) texture based on x-ray diffraction spectra. The printed Ni film had close to bulk electrical conductivity; its indentation elastic modulus and hardness was measured to be 203 ± 6.7 GPa and 6.27 ± 0.34 GPa, respectively. Magnetoresistance, magnetic hysteresis loop, and magnetic domain imaging showed promising results of the printed Ni for functional applications.