Effect of the Applied Pressure on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Nickel Films Prepared by Electroless Plating on Beech Wood
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Nickel films were deposited on beech wood substrates using the electroless plating method, and the effect of applied mechanical pressures (2, 4, 6, and 8 kN/cm2) on their structural, morphological, wetting, and electrical properties was systematically investigated. Nickel-coated wood specimens were subjected to uniaxial pressures for 3 s, followed by characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), contact-angle (CA) measurements, and current–voltage (I–V) analysis. SEM revealed surface openings of approximately 2–4 μm at 2 kN/cm2, which progressively narrowed with increasing pressure and were nearly absent at 8 kN/cm2. Cross-sectional SEM-EDS confirmed Ni penetration into the porous wood structure, with the greatest apparent penetration depth observed at 6 kN/cm2. XRD identified face-centered-cubic Ni with a preferential (111) orientation, while Williamson-Hall analysis indicated pressure-dependent variations in crystallite size and lattice microstrain. The wetting behavior exhibited a pressure-dependent response, with the highest initial contact angle observed at 6 kN/cm2, followed by a decrease at 8 kN/cm2 consistent with increased water penetration associated with pressure-induced surface and interfacial damage. All samples exhibited approximately linear I–V characteristics (R2 > 0.99), with the highest electrical response observed at 6 kN/cm2 and a subsequent decline at 8 kN/cm2. Overall, the results demonstrate a pressure-dependent balance between compaction of the nickel conductive network at moderate pressures and mechanical degradation under excessive compression, providing a basis for pressure-controlled design of functional conductive Ni/wood interfaces.
Source: ACS Omega
Author: Jamal Amer
Institution: Atomic Energy Commission of Syria
Language: English
Subfield: Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,935
OpenAlex ID: W7224394783