Ferromagnetic behaviour of anthropogenic multi-walled carbon nanotubes trapped in spider web indoor

Abstract

Black carbon (BC) (as partly burnt black particulate matter) present indoor are deposited on interior surfaces of the indoors (easily visualize over the blades of electric fan/exhausts and over domestic spider webs) are known to be a potential indoor pollution problem. We detect with the help of indoor spider webs the floating BC contains a significant amount of defective multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) possessing room temperature ferromagnetism. Microscopic studies shows a lot of internal and surfacial defects in these indoor-MWCNTs. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) showed the presence of very stable carbon centred radicals in these indoor-MWCNTs. Room temperature ferromagnetism most importantly originated by the presence of a large amount of unpaired spin frustrated carbon centred radicals (trapped in defects, junctions and fractures) which are inadvertently formed during the pyrolysis of carbonaceous materials through routine domestic activities.