Magnetic nanoparticles decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes by bio-inspired poly(dopamine) surface functionalization

• Magnetic CNTs were prepared by assembly of Fe3O4 nanoparticles to PDA-encapsulated CNTs.
• PDA was formed by oxidative polymerization under an aerobic and alkaline condition.
• PDA was used as an ionic sorbent to adsorb the cations.
• Fe2O3 was used as seeds to induce the coprecipitation of Fe3O4.

Magnetic carbon nanotube composites were prepared by decorating magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the external surface of polydopamine (PDA)-encapsulated carbon nanotubes (CNTs/PDA) in an in situ coprecipitation method. The process involved the encapsulation of CNTs with PDA, the deposition of Fe2O3 on the CNTs/PDA surface, and the deposition of Fe3O4 on the Fe2O3-deposited CNTs/PDA surface. In this process, PDA was used as an ionic sorbent to adsorb cations, and Fe2O3 was used as seeds to induce the coprecipitation of Fe3O4. The results show that the Fe2O3 and magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the surface of CNTs, and the magnetic CNT composites display good ferromagnetic property.

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