Modern experimental methods were used to measure the nickel diffusivity. This was given by:

D(cm2/s) = 1.69 x 10-4exp[-0.15(eV)/kT]

The measured activation energy was close to that predicted by first-principles theory using the nudged-elastic-band method. The measured diffusivity of nickel was higher than previously published values at temperatures below 1150C, and orders of magnitude higher when extrapolated to room temperature.

J.Lindroos, D.P.Fenning, D.J.Backlund, E.Verlage, A.Gorgulla, S.K.Estreicher, H.Savin, T.Buonassisi: Journal of Applied Physics, 2013, 113[20], 204906