Coating and filling of carbon nanotubes with homogeneous magnetic nanoparticles

Magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites were obtained by decoration of metal oxide nanoparticles on or in carbon nanotubes. The method involved the dispersion of the carbon nanotubes in iron pentacarbonyl Fe(CO)5 followed by vacuum thermolysis and subsequent oxidation. The magnetic iron oxide particle deposition was always homogeneous and could be controlled selectively on the outer, inner, or both surfaces of MWCNTs by using different MWCNTs. Since the hollow channels remained intact, these MWCNT based composites could find special applications in cellular delivery systems.