Electroless nickel deposition on amino-functionalized silica spheres

A simple method for elctroless nickel deposition on amino-functionalized monodisperse silica spheres is described. This method is based on the palladium species that were chemiadsorbed on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane on silica particle surfaces. The transmission electron microcopy (TEM) images of the products show that nickel is deposited on the silica surface as a thin layer. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis of the nickel coated silica spheres show the presence of Ni, P, O, and Si elements. TEM and EDX analysis suggest the successful nickel deposition on the surfaces of silica particles by the present electroless deposition (ELD) process.