We proposed a new way to synthesize a nanocomposite consisted of cementite Fe3C nanoparticles and amorphous carbon by radio frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Transmission electron microscope images show the existence of nanometric dark grains(Fe3C) embedded in a light matrix(amorphous carbon) in the samples. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiment exhibit that the chemical bonding state in the films corresponded to sp3/sp2 amorphous carbon, sp^3 C-N(287.3 eV) and C15 in Fe3C(283.5 eV). With increasing deposition time, the ratio of amorphous carbon increased. The magnetic measurements show that the value of in-lane coercivity increased with increasing carbon matrix concentration(from about 6.56× 10^3 A/m for film without carbon structures to approximately 2.77× 10^4 and 5.81 × 10^4 AJm for nanocomposite films at room temperature and 10 K, respectively). The values of saturation magnetization for the synthesized nanocomposites were lower than that of the bulk Fe3C ( 140 Am^2/kg).
A new type of hierarchical ZnSnO3-SnO2 flower-shaped nanostructure composed of thin nanoflakes as secondary units is successfully prepared through a simple hydrothermal process. The polyhedral ZnSnO3 core acts as a sacrificed template for the growth of hierarchical SnO2 nanoflakes, and the average thickness of SnO2 nanoflakes is around 25 nm. The time-dependent morphology evolution of ZnSnO3-SnO2 samples was investigated, and a possible formation mechanism of these hierarchical structures is discussed. The gas sensor based on these novel ZnSnO3-SnO2 nanostructures exhibits high response and quick response- recovery traits to ethanol (C2H5OH). It is found that ZnSnO3-SnO2 nanoflakes have a response of 27.8 to 50×10-6 C2H5OH at the optimal operating temperature of 270 °C, and the response and recovery time are within 1.0 and 1.8 s, respectively.