Synthesis and magnetic properties of FeO/helical carbon nanofiber nanocomposites from the catalytic pyrolysis of ferrocene.

High purity FeO/helical carbon nanofiber composites were obtained on a large scale by the catalytic pyrolysis of ferrocene in the presence of tin powder at 500°C over 12 h. The sizes of FeO nanoparticles are 35-65 nm in size, and the diameters of the helical carbon nanofibers range from 40-70 nm. The shapes and compositions of the nanocomposites are simply controlled by adjusting the reaction temperatures. On the basis of the obtained experimental results the formation of the helical FeO/carbon nanofiber composites was investigated and discussed. The magnetic hysteresis loop of the products shows ferromagnetic behavior with saturation magnetization ( M), remanent magnetization ( M) and coercivity ( H) values of ca. 29.8 emu/g, 9.6 emu/g and 306.6 Oe, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]