Metallization of Carbon Fibers with Nickel by Electroless Plating Technique

Nickel-coated carbon fibers (NCFs) were fabricated by electroless plating. Sufficient activation sites were vital to deposit a continuous and uniform coating layer. The reaction mechanism and the effect of catalyzation time on the quality of the plating layer were especially discussed. The morphology and coating thickness of the NCFs, particle-size and phosphorus content in the coating layer, formation of the Ni3P phase, and its evolution with annealing temperature were examined by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).