Electroless preparation and characterization of magnetic ICF PS targets

Magnetic inertial confinement fusion (ICF) polystylene (PS) targets were prepared by electroless plating technology. An alkaline bath including nickel sulfate as the source of nickel and sodium sub-phosphate as the reducing agent was used to prepare electroless Ni–P deposits. Morphology, composition, structure, phase transformation behaviour and magnetic property of the magnetic ICF targets were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy diffraction spectrum (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The results showed that the magnetic plating was composed of Ni and P, and there was only 7.6 wt.% of P in the deposited coating. The joint between the Ni–P coating and the ICF PS target is very tight, and the thickness of Ni–P magnetic plating is about 1 μm. The plated ICF PS targets, which were magnetic, could be used in magnetic suspension experiment.