Magnetic response of CVD and PECVD iron filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) and injection chemical vapour deposition (CVD) methods have been used to produce superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated in carbon nanostructures (core@shell). Morphological and structural properties of the Fe-filled CNTs synthesized by PECVD and CVD were carried out using a scanning and transmission electron microscope (SEM, TEM), high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Magnetometry results and electron microscopy observations reveal magnetic responses with different characteristics associated to the iron particles depending on the deposition method. The magnetic properties of these samples have been described in terms of the carbon nanotube anisotropic structural effects. This magnetic behaviour has potential for biomedical applications. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.