LAUSR

Abstract The early stages of nucleation and growth of nanostructures can control the shape and final size of the fabricated nanostructure. Therefore, the study of the nucleation and growth mechanism of nanostructures is of great importance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the nucleation and growth mechanism of nickel nanocones from a chloride-based bath containing ethylene ammonium dichloride as a crystal modifier. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry tests were employed to investigate the nucleation and growth mechanism and also the mechanism of crystal modifier performance on the growth of nanocones. Electrochemical studies revealed that the deposition of Ni nanocones occurs as nucleation and growth, and the growth of Ni nanocones can be considered as a competitive growth between two-dimensional and three-dimensional growth. By increasing the concentration of crystal modifier in the coating bath, the growth rate accelerates in the vertical direction, leading to enhance in three-dimensional growth. In general, according to the results of this study, the growth of nickel nanocones can be attributed to the synergistic effect between crystal modifiers and growth caused by screw dislocation.