Effect of Boric Acid, Sodium Nitrate, and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate as Additives on the Hydrogen Permeation during Nickel Electroplating on Palladium Electrodes

The effect of boric acid, sodium nitrate, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on hydrogen permeation behaviors during the nickel electroplating was investigated using Devanathan–Stachurski method. The results demonstrated that the hydrogen permeation amount decreased with the increased addition of the H3BO3 and NaNO3 concentrations in the nickel electroplating bath. No decrease in the amount of hydrogen permeation was observed when SDS was used. Hydrogen permeation decreases in the presence of boric acid because it favors the formation of a more compact and less faulty Ni plating, improving the barrier effect caused by the nickel coating. In the case of NaNO3, it reacts with hydrogen ions (H+), diminishing them and hence hydrogen permeation. The three additives together showed a combined behavior and a very significant decrease of hydrogen permeation.