Tuning the magnetic and structural properties of electrodeposited nickel - polypyrrole (Ni-PPy) composites through moderate stirring

Magnetically active Nickel - Polypyrrole (Ni-PPy) composites have been electrodeposited on 304 stainless steel (SS) electrodes using chronoamperometry at various stirring rates. Interestingly, the crystallinity of PPy has been found to change from amorphous to semi - crystalline nature while the powder XRD patterns for Ni coated PPy also showed significant changes with increase in the stirring rates. We have investigated the magnetic properties of pristine PPy and Ni coated PPy composites using room temperature magnetization measurements. Pristine PPy exhibited a diamagnetic characteristic while Ni coated PPy showed a ferromagnetic behavior with a high coercivity of similar to 194 Oe at room temperature. We have also observed a transition from hard to soft magnetism for Ni coated PPy caused by an increase in the stirring rates. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.