Reducing reaction of Fe3O4 in nanoscopic reactors of a-CNTs

J Phys Chem B. 2007 Feb 22;111(7):1724-8. doi: 10.1021/jp0661037. Epub 2007 Feb 1.

Abstract

A reduction of Fe3O4 nanowires in nanoscopic reactors of amorphous C:H nanotubes (a-CNTs) was taken to understand features of the chemical reaction mechanism in nanoscale reactors. Fe3O4 nanowires encapsulated in a-CNTs were reduced into iron at a relatively low temperature of 570 degrees C, producing iron nanoparticles encapsulated in CNTs accompanied by the crystallization of the a-CNT shell. It was found that carbon in the a-CNT shell rather than hydrogen (5.5 wt % in it) reduced Fe3O4, showing features different from those in a macroscopic system. The possible mechanisms behind this phenomenon are discussed.