Electronic and magnetic structure of carbon nanotubes using x-ray absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy

Carbon nanotubes are a fraction of the size of transistors used in today’s best microchips, as it could reduce power demands and heating in next electronics revolution. Present study investigates the electronic and magnetic structure of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) synthesized by chemical vapor deposition technique using near edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS) measurement at C K-edge and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at Co and Fe $L_{3,2}$ -edges. NEXAFS at C K-edge shows significant $\pi$-bonding, and Fe(Co) L-edge proves the presence of Co${}^{2+}$ and Fe${}^{2+}$ in octahedral symmetry, and embedded in C-matrix of MWCNT. Element specific hystersis loops and XMCD spectra clearly shows that these MWCNTs exhibits room temperature ferromagnetism. These measurements elucidated the electronic structure of CNTs and presence of magnetic interactions at room temperature.