Nickel Salt Effect on Macroporous Silicon Immersed in Fluoride Solution: From Silicon Microtubes to Nickel Microtubes

Abstract

In this paper, we report the electrochemical behavior of macroporous silicon immersed in the mixture of fluoride solution with different nickel salt. Depending on the pH level and oxidant type content into the solution, it is possible to achieve either silicon microtubes formation or nickel microtubes formation. However, the homogeneous nickel deposition over all the pores wall is achieved when the electrolyte contain a strong oxidant anions, while in the electrolyte containing a weak oxidant the nickel deposition takes place predominantly at the border of pores.