Filling of carbon nanotubes for bio-applications

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) provide a smart carrier system on the nanometer scale. The system can be used as a template for ferromagnetic fillers. Such a molecular hybrid is a promising potential candidate for the controlled heating of tumour tissue at the cellular level. This is a key reason why it is important to optimize the synthesis route of metal filled carbon nanotubes with regards bulk scale synthesis and purity. In the current study we present multiwalled carbon nanotubes filled with α‐iron phase (Fe‐MWCNT). The influence of acid treatment on the stability of the filling and the sample purity is also presented. High resolution transmission microscopy, its Energy dispersive X‐Ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron energy‐loss spectroscopy (EELS) modes have been applied for the analysis of the morphology and chemical composition of the samples. The phase of iron nanowires encapsulated into the carbon nanotubes was determined with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) on a local scale. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)