Observation and formation mechanism of stable face-centered-cubic Fe nanorods in carbon nanotubes

The crystallographic structure and orientation of iron nanoparticles present in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was studied when iron was used as a catalyst. It was found that while most of the nanoparticles encapsulated inside the CNTs had the expected α–Fe (body-centered-cubic) phase, a significant number of them formed and retained the γ–Fe (face-centered-cubic) phase that is not the normal bulk phase at room temperature (nor even expected to form at the growth temperature used). It was also found iron particles at the tips of the nanotubes were either α–Fe or cementite (Fe₃C). On the basis of these observations and thermodynamics, a mechanism for the formation of these particles and insights into CNT growth is proposed.