Laser cladding,together with laser nitriding was used to synthesize a titanium nickel intermetallic compound layer on the nickel substrate and a TiN coating on the cladding layer. During the laser cladding, Ti and Ni powders were blown into the melting pool by a six-hole coaxial nozzle powder injection system. Exothermic reactions between Ti and Ni took place in the melting pool, and a cladding layer of titanium nickel intermetallic compounds was produced. Laser nitriding in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere followed the production of the cladding layer, and formed a golden yellow TiN layer over it. An optical and a scanning electron microscope were used to investigate the microstructures and measure the thicknesses of the cladding layer and the TiN layer. Phase identification was carried out by XRD. For the nitriding sample, the microhardness profile of the clad layer was tested. The optimal process parameters of the in situ synthesis of titanium nickel intermetallic compounds were obtained.