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

In order to attain new functional nanomaterials with good magnetic property, multi-walled carbon nanotubes/hematite (MWNTs/α-Fe2O3) composites were synthesized using the co-deposition method. MWNTs/α-Fe2O3 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-Fe2O3 composites are related to the heat treatment temperature. MWNTs are modified by α-Fe2O3 nano-particles and α-Fe2O3 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 Fe3O4 particles. Furthermore, the MWNTs composites treated at 450 °C and 600 °C have good magnetic behaviour.