Inclusion of Crystalline Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Uniform Carbon Nanotubes Prepared by a Template Carbonization Method

An attempt was made to encapsulate iron nanoparticles in uniform carbon nanotubes, which were prepared by using an anodic aluminum oxide film as a template. The pyrolytic carbon deposition from propylene was carried out on the uniform channels of the anodic oxide film, and then the MOCVD (metal−organic chemical vapor deposition) technique was applied to incorporate iron into the carbon-coated nanochannels. Ferrocene vapor was used as an iron precursor for the MOCVD under H2 flow. The iron/carbon nanotube composites were liberated from the anodic oxide film by alkali treatment. It was found that the carbon nanotubes contain crystalline nanoparticles of Fe3O4 and their number and size are controllable by changing the MOCVD conditions. Furthermore, no iron oxide particles were found on the outer surface of the nanotubes.