Fe, Fe3C
and NdC2
nanoparticles, encapsulated within carbon cages, were continuously
produced during the induction thermal plasma processing of
Fe14Nd2B, in the presence of methane or acetylene. The product morphology was studied by means of
SEM. Further structural details were obtained from TEM, HRTEM, Raman spectroscopy
and x-ray powder diffraction studies. The so-produced nanostructures have core–shell
structure, with inner cavity diameters varying between 10 and 30 nm. The carbon coatings
were composed of between 5 and 25 graphene layers. The carbon cages were built from
sp2
carbon atoms, which protected the encapsulated nanoparticles from both oxidation and
agglomeration. The plasma generated products were ferromagnetic, with maximum
values of coercivity field of 600 G s, and saturation magnetization values of up to
40 emu g−1.