Facile synthesis of co-axially electrospun Co-C nanofibers and their ferromagnetic behavior

Abstract

We describe a simple co-axial electrospinning approach followed by a carbonisation process to create cobalt-carbon (Co-C) nanofibers that are then thoroughly analysed using various techniques. X-ray diffraction measurements showed the creation of pure crystalline cobalt with face-centered cubic (fcc) structure, and average crystallite size was determined using the Debye–Scherrer formula. The average crystallite size has been calculated to be in the range of 10 − 15 nm. According to the Raman investigation, all Co-C nanofibers have an amorphous carbon structure with little graphitic behaviour. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to determine the shape and average diameter of electrospun nanofibers. The field-dependent magnetic characterisation demonstrated a satisfactory ferromagnetic behaviour with maximum saturation magnetisation values of 10, 10.2, and 11.2 emu/g for Co12.5-C sample at 300, 100, and 5 K, respectively. Compared to bulk cobalt, the produced Co-C nanofibers have a high coercivity value. With average crystallite size, the coercivity varies. Again, magnetisation versus temperature measurements have supported the existence of ferromagnetism because there is no evidence of blocking temperature or any transitional behaviour below 300 K. As a result, applications for microwave absorption, catalysis, and several magnetic recording devices can benefit from the coupling of ferromagnetic properties with carbon nanofiber materials.