  Proton-$\gamma$ coincidences from $(\mathrm{d},\mathrm{p})$ reactions between
a $^{66}\mathrm{Ni}$ beam and a deuterated polyethylene target have been
analyzed with the inverse-Oslo method to find the nuclear level density (NLD)
and $\gamma$-ray strength function ($\gamma$SF) of $^{67}\mathrm{Ni}$. The
$^{66}\mathrm{Ni}(\mathrm{n},\gamma)$ capture cross section has been calculated
using the Hauser-Feshbach model in TALYS using the measured NLD and $\gamma$SF
as constraints. The results confirm that the
$^{66}\mathrm{Ni}(\mathrm{n},\gamma)$ reaction acts as a bottleneck when
relying on one-zone nucleosynthesis calculations. However, the impact of this
reaction is strongly damped in multi-zone low-metallicity AGB stellar models
experiencing i-process nucleosynthesis.
