Synthesis of novel magnetic spheres by electroless nickel coating of polymer spheres

A grid of micrometer-sized core-shell particles was fabricated by electroless plating technique. The core-shell particles consist of a PMMA core covered with a shell of nickel–phosphorus alloy component. The morphology and structure of the as-synthesized products were characterized by OM, TEM, XRD and EDS. The magnetic property of the particles was measured by an Alternating Gradient Magnetometer (AGM). The results showed that the less uniform coverage of magnetic shell was formed as nickel–phosphorus other than pure nickel component during electroless procedure. The as-prepared particles exhibited magnetism and showed magnetic response by being formed into chain structures under an external magnetic field.