In order to apply to high-nickel cathodes for high-capacity and stability enhancement of lithium-ion batteries, the characteristics of the coating film were reviewed using the conventional nickel plating method. The surface morphology of the plating layer and the measurement of the surface roughness were analyzed according to scan size and rate using the contact mode of Atomic Force Microscopy. The hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of the electrolyte played an important role in shaping the metal ion plating. As the overpotential of the surface increased during plating, the crystals grew in a direction other than the main crystal growth direction. The increase in on-time during pulse plating appears to result in coarse particles as much of the applied current is consumed by the reduction of hydrogen ions, resulting in lower current efficiency. From the AFM image, it was confirmed that the blackening of the plated film was due to a partial overvoltage phenomenon during electrolytic degreasing. In order to be used as a high-nickel cathode, it seems that the current must be uniformly distributed on the surface of the substrate during plating.