Structure and magnetic properties of surface alloyed Fe nanocapsules prepared by arc discharge

C-Fe-Si alloy encapsulating Fe nanocapsules were fabricated by arc evaporating the mixture of Fe and SiC powders. The high temperature of the electric arc results in a surface reaction between SiC and Fe nanoparticles and therefore a uniform encapsulation of the Fe nanoparticles with its alloy. The size of the nanocapsules ranges from 10 to 60 nm while most shells are approximately 7 nm in thickness. Air oxidation to the as-prepared sample does not change the shell/core structure but the saturation magnetization and the coercivity are reduced. The characteristics of the nanocapsules were investigated systematically by using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer.