Structure and magnetic properties of FeCo nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanotubes grown by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition is a simple technique for preparing magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanotubes. We employed alloy catalysts when growing carbon nanotubes to control the composition and magnetic properties of encapsulated nanoparticles. Single-crystal nanoparticles were successfully encapsulated in carbon nanotubes, and their crystal structure varied depending on the composition of the alloy catalysts. The coercive force of nanoparticles also varied according to the composition of the catalysts.

► Single-crystal FeCo alloy nanoparticles were successfully encapsulate in carbon nanotubes by microwave plasma. ► The crystal structure of nanoparticles changed according to the composition of FeCo catalysts. ► Coercive force in nanoparticles better with rising the Co content in FeCo catalyst and shows a maximum at Co content of 50 at%.