Ni　coatings　were　synthesized　by　brush　plating　with　soluble　anode　Ni.　The　microstructure　was　examined　by　XRD　and　TEM.　Results　show　that　the　Ni　coating　has　a　(111)　textured　nano-grain　structure　with　a　grain　size　of　approximately　20　nm.　The　hardness　of　the　Ni　coating　increases　first　and　then　decreases　with　the　increasing　plating　voltage　and　the　temperature　of　the　solution.　The　anode/cathode　movement　speed　has　minor　influence　on　the　hardness　of　the　coating.　The　hardness　of　the　Ni　coating　increases　with　the　increasing　of　annealing　temperature　and　reaches　the　highest　value　at　300°C　and　then　decreases　with　the　increasing　annealing　temperature.　The　thermal　stability　of　the　nanostructured　Ni　coating　synthesized　by　brush　plating　is　much　higher　than　that　synthesized　by　tank　plating　and　the　underlying　mechanism　is　discussed.