Nickel electrodeposition on copper substrate for cyclotron production of 64Cu

Natural nickel electrodeposition on a copper substrate with a gold layer was studied with the aim of production of ⁶⁴Cu radionuclide. The electrodeposition experiments were carried out in acid plating baths. The operating parameters such as pH, temperature, and current density were optimized. The current efficiency was measured at different current densities. The optimum conditions of the nickel electrodeposition are as follows: 5.7 g 1^-1 nickel, pH 3-4, dc current density 85.54 mA cm^-2, and 55°C, with 97% current efficiency. SEM photomicrographs demonstrated fine-grained structure of the deposit obtained from the optimum bath. A 46-μm high-quality layer was deposited on a gold layer of the copper substrate.