Raman, EELS and XPS studies of maghemite decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Iron oxide particles with the diameter being 5–10 nm were attached onto the sidewalls of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by the thermal decomposition of cyclopentadieny iron (II) dicarbonyl dimmer. The red shift of G-mode from 1579 cm − 1 to 1571 cm − 1 in the Raman profile of the decorated MWCNTs is indicative of the attachment of nanoparticles. Electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses reveals that the attached nanoparticles are composed of a maghemite phase. Transmission electron microscopy suggests the maghemite particles are covered with amorphous carbon materials and form a core–shell structure.