The magnetization of Ni foils electrodeposited under different conditions was not usually found to differ significantly from that of the bulk (55.4Am2/kg). However, some galvanostatically deposited films from a citrate-based electrolyte showed a lower magnetization, which was rose to the bulk value after annealing at 575K, with no change in lattice parameter. Analysis of the influence of various lattice defects (Ni vacancies or interstitials, H or C impurities) using density functional theory indicated that Ni vacancies could be present in all of the films and that a non-equilibrium concentration of C interstitials was the likely explanation of the reduced magnetization in the citrate as-deposited Ni.

Magnetization of Electrodeposited Nickel - Role of Interstitial Carbon. C.O’Reilly, S.Sanvito, F.M.F.Rhen, P.Stamenov, J.M.D.Coey: Journal of Applied Physics, 2006, 99[8], 081301 (3pp)