Magnetic properties of carbon nanostructures in neutral and doped state

Magnetism and superconductivity of carbon nanostructures, e.g. single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT),
peapods and double walled carbon nanotubes are an actual and very attractive topic in solid state physics. The first task of the proposed project is the preparation of CNT by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). The prepared CNT will be further purified using chemical and physical methods in order to remove impurities, namely the magnetic elements (Fe, Co, Ni). The final products will by characterized by a wide range of techniques (XRD, HR SEM, Vis-NIR a mikro-Raman spectroscopy), the content and particle size of magnetic impurities will be determined using the SQUID magnetometry. Than a magnetic properties of the purified SWCNT samples will be investigated by detailed magnetization and a.c. susceptibility measurements in wide range of temperatures (2 – 1000 K) and magnetic fields (up to 14 T) with the aim of proving the theoretical predictions of ferromagnetic ordering and superconductivity. Furthermore, we plan to modify the electronic structure of carbon nanostructures by chemical/electrochemical doping and we will investigate the changes in magnetic properties of the nanostructures. The outcome of the complex investigation of magnetic properties of SWCNTs will be evaluated in context of the so-far reported results.