The role of γ-iron nanoparticulates in the growth of carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (∼200nm diameter) are grown by chemical vapor deposition using catalytic iron particles. Mossbauer spectroscopy enables differentiation among relatively large Fe3C, α-Fe, and nanosized superparamagnetic fcc γ-Fe particles. The antiferromagnetic configuration of γ-Fe nanoparticles yields a significant fraction of uncompensated spins, producing a weak ferromagnetism that allows estimation of size (2–3nm) via magnetization in zero field versus variable field cooling. This property of γ-Fe nanoparticles has not been previously employed. We propose that the surfaces of 200nm iron carbide particles are covered with nanosized γ-Fe and graphitized carbon that participate in the catalytic growth of nanotubes.