Fe3C-filled carbon nanotubes: permanent cylindrical nanomagnets possessing exotic magnetic properties

Abstract

The present study aims to deduce the confinement effect on the magnetic properties of iron carbide (Fe₃C) nanorods filled inside carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and to document any structural phase transitions that can be induced by compressive/tensile stress generated within the nanorod. Enhancement in the magnetic properties of the nanorods is attributed to tensile stress as well as to compression, present in the radial direction and along the nanotube axis, respectively. Finally, the growth of permanent cylindrical nanomagnets has been optimized by applying a field gradient. Besides presenting the growth model of in situ filling, we have also proposed the mechanism of magnetization of the nanotubes. Magnetization along the tube axis has been probed by confirming the pole formation. Fe₃C has been selected because of its ease of formation, low T_C and incompressibility.