Magnetic properties of NiFe sub(2)O sub(4)/carbon nanofibers from Venezuelan petcoke

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 381; pp. 10 - 13
• Main Authors: Briceno, Sarah, Silva, Pedro, Molina, Wilmer, Bramer-Escamilla, Werner, Alcala, Olgi, Canizales, Edgard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-05-2015
• Subjects: Carbon; Carbon fibers; Magnetic properties; Magnetization; Nanofibers; Nanostructure; Petroleum coke; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2014.12.034

NiFe sub(2)O sub(4)/carbon nanofibers (NiFe sub(2)O sub(4)/CNFs) have been successfully synthesized by hydrotermal method using Venezuelan petroleum coke (petcoke) as carbon source and NiFe sub(2)O sub(4) as catalyst. The morphology, structural and magnetic properties of nanocomposite products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). XRD analysis revealed a cubic spinel structure and ferrite phase with high crystallinity. HR-TEM reveals the presence of CNFs with diameters of 4 + or - 2 nm. At room temperature, NiFe sub(2)O sub(4)/CNFs show superparamagnetic behavior with a maximum magnetization of 15.35 emu/g. Our findings indicate that Venezuelan petroleum coke is suitable industrial carbon source for the growth of magnetic CNFs.