Laser pyrolysis fabrication of ferromagnetic γ′-Fe4N and FeC nanoparticles

Using the laser pyrolysis method, single phase gamma'-Fe4N nanoparticles were prepared by a two step method involving preparation of nanoscale iron oxide and a subsequent gas-solid nitridation reaction. Single phase Fe3C and Fe7C3 could be prepared by laser pyrolysis from Fe(CO)(5) and 3C(2)H(4) directly. Characterization techniques such as XRD, TEM and vibrating sample magnetometer were used to measure phase structure, particle size and magnetic properties of these nanoscale nitride and carbide particles. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)38408-0].