Ordered arrays of magnetic metal nanotubes and nanowires encapsulated with carbon tubes

The ordered arrays of magnetic metal (including Fe, Co and Ni) nanotubes and nanowires encapsulated with carbon tubes are controllably synthesized by employing the array of C tubes as second-order template and combining with electrodeposition technique. The wall thickness and diameter of carbon nanotubes are uniform along the whole tubes; also the wall thickness of inner metal nanotubes is adjustable from 25 nm to solid nanowires. These composite structures are characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), Raman scattering spectrum, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The magnetic properties show that coaxial nanotubes and nanocables composite arrays all exhibit magnetic anisotropy with the easy direction perpendicular to axis of the metal nanotubes or nanowires except the Ni@C coaxial nanotubes array that has no preferable magnetization axis. Copyright © 2008 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.