Fabrication of Electrically Conductive Nickel–Silver Bimetallic Particles via Polydopamine Coating

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Inspired by adhesive proteins excreted by marine mussels, dopamine can act as a versatile surface modification agent for various organic and inorganic materials. By using adhesive polydopamine (PDA) as an intermediate layer, a simple and novel method for fabricating nickel-PDA-silver (Ni-PDA-Ag) bimetallic composite particles was developed. Ni-PDA-Ag bimetallic particles were fabricated by dispersing Ni particles in an aqueous dopamine solution followed by electroless Ag plating on the prepared Ni-PDA particles. A PDA layer with nano-meter thickness was deposited spontaneously on the surface of the Ni particles by oxidative self-polymerization of dopamine under alkaline conditions. Electroless Ag plating on the prepared Ni-PDA particles was carried out in the presence of a glucose solution as a reducing agent. Ni-PDA particles and Ni-PDA-Ag composite particles with a PDA intermediate layer were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, the electrical conductivity of as-prepared composite particles was evaluated by a 4-point probe. The PDA layer deposited on the surface of Ni was confirmed by XPS spectra, FT-IR spectroscopy, and FE-TEM. FE-SEM images demonstrated that Ag nanoparticles were successfully plated on the PDA layer-coated Ni particles after the electroless Ag plating process. XRD patterns also confirmed the presence of Ag in a metallic state. In addition, the sheet resistance of as-prepared composite particles showed a tendency to decrease with increasing AgNO3 concentration.