Magnetic Functionalization of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Structural and Magnetic Characterization

Magnetic functionalization of carbon nanotubes represents an effective strategy for combining the exceptional structural properties of carbon nanomaterials with the controllability of magnetic nanoparticles. In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized using iron-based magnetic nanostructures to produce magnetically responsive hybrid materials. Structural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), while magnetic properties were evaluated using vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The resulting magnetic carbon nanotubes (Mag-CNTs) exhibited saturation magnetization values ranging from 45 to 65 emu/g and demonstrated magnetic separation efficiencies exceeding 95%. The results confirm successful magnetic functionalization and highlight the potential of Mag-CNTs for biomedical targeting, magnetic separation, and nanotherapeutic applications.