Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanotubes decorated with manganese–zinc ferrite nanospheres

Mn1−xZnxFe2O4 nanospheres were self-assembled alongside the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via solvothermal method. The shape, structure, and size of the as-synthesized sample were characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The results shown that a large number of the high purity Mn1−xZnxFe2O4 nanocrystallites were decorated on the sidewalls of the MWCNTs, and these nanocrystallites aggregated around the MWCNTs templates formed spherical aggregation. The maximum magnetic saturation value of the Mn1−xZnxFe2O4/MWCNTs nanocomposites reached 55.6 emu g−1. The probable formation mechanism of the nanocomposites was also investigated based on the experimental results.