Preparation and magnetic property of multi-walled carbon nanotube/α-Fe2O3 composites

Abstract In order to attain new functional nanomaterials with good magnetic property, multi-walled carbon nanotubes/hematite (MWNTs/ α -Fe 2 O 3 ) composites were synthesized using the co-deposition method. MWNTs/ α -Fe 2 O 3 composites were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), Raman spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The experimental results show that the structure and magnetic properties of the MWNTs/ α -Fe 2 O 3 composites are related to the heat treatment temperature. MWNTs are modified by α -Fe 2 O 3 nano-particles and α -Fe 2 O 3 nanorods with a diameter of 10−50 nm after being treated at 450 °C. When the heat treatment temperature exceeds 600 °C, MWNTs are only modified by Fe 3 O 4 particles. Furthermore, the MWNTs composites treated at 450 °C and 600 °C have good magnetic behaviour.