Thermogravimetric analysis of the interaction of ferromagnetic metal atom and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2008 Apr;8(4):2044-8. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2008.262.

Abstract

This paper describes the thermal oxidative behavior of atomized iron or atomized cobalt in the presence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The thermogravimetric analysis shows the atomized iron thermal oxidation starts at about 500 degrees C that is absent when the atomized iron is sintered with multiwalled carbon naonotubes. The thermal oxidation of iron in the sintered samples requires the collapse of the multiwalled carbon nanotubes. A similar behavior is observed with atomized cobalt when its oxidation requires the collapse of the nanotubes. This thermal oxidative shift is interpreted as due to the atomized iron or atomized cobalt atom experiencing extensive overlap and confinement effect with multiwalled carbon nanotubes causing a spin transfer. This confinement effect is suggested to produce a transformation of iron from the outermost electronic distribution of 3d64s2 to an effective configuration of 3d84s0 and for cobalt 3d74s2 to 3d94s0 producing spintronics effect.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Magnetics*
  • Materials Testing
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / ultrastructure*
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties
  • Thermogravimetry*

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Nanotubes, Carbon