Mössbauer and magnetic characterisation of carbon-coated small iron particles

Carbon-coated Fe particles have been produced by the Krätschmer–Huffmann carbon-arc discharge method. Soot, collarette and cathode samples have been separately characterised by Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetisation measurements in the temperature range 4.2–300 K. From the analysis of the results the content of the different Fe phases and Fe-carbon solid solutions in our samples has been determined, as well as an estimation of particle sizes, which were found to be approximately 9 and 13 nm for the soot and collarette samples, respectively.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish CICYT under grant MAT99-1063-C04-01. Financial support by FAPESP (H.R.R., J.A.H.C.) is gratefully acknowledged.Peer reviewe