Magnetic properties of iron/graphite core-shell nanoparticles prepared by annealing of Fe-C-N-based nanocomposite

We are reporting the phase composition and magnetic properties of the core-shell structured iron/graphite nanoparticles formed during annealing of a nanopowder prepared by laser pyrolysis of gas phase reactants. The originally synthesized Fe-C-N-based nanocomposite powder was characterized by TEM, XRD and magnetic measurements. The nanopowder was heated up to 800 °C in vacuum. The presence of iron nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 40 nm in the annealed state of the nanopowder was proved by XRD and TEM analysis. Mössbauer spectroscopy was used for the characterization of the synthesized/annealed nanopowder to prove the qualitative change in the phase composition.