Magnetic Properties of Electrodeposited Nickel-Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Composite Films

Coelectrodeposition of Ni with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was successfully carried out by noncovalent functionalization. Microstructure and magnetic properties of Ni-matrix nanocomposites films were investigated in a range of MWCNTs content from 2% to 5.1%. The MWCNT content was controlled by current density and MWCNT concentration in the solution. Ni-matrix composite films exhibit polycrystalline microstructure having different texture factors along (111) and (200) crystallographic orientations. The nanocomposites films show in-plane easy axis of magnetization. However, coercivity and squareness variations imply that magnetocrystalline anisotropy, grain size, and morphology as well as Ni/carbon nanotube interfacial microstrain play crucial roles in the magnetization process.