Magnetic fine particles of Fe and Co encapsulated by carbon layers

Fine particles of Fe and Co encapsulated by carbon (C) nanolayers were synthesized through reduction of the metal oxides by C. They were ∼400 nm in diameter, and the shell of the C layers was ∼5 nm in thickness. The Fe particles were composed of mixture of body-centered cubic (BCC), α, and face-centered cubic (FCC), γ-phase, and the Co particles were composed of a FCC, α-phase. Maximum saturation magnetization of the Fe was 101 Am2/kg and that of the Co was 136 Am2/kg. Those C-encapsulated particles showed excellent soft magnetic properties and oxidation resistance in air.