Synthesis and characterization of stable room temperature bulk ferromagnetic graphite

A novel and inexpensive chemical route leading to obtain macroscopic quantities of room temperature magnetic carbon is reported. This route consists of a controlled etching on the graphite structure, performed by a redox reaction in a closed system between graphite and CuO. X-ray diffraction suggests that this modified graphite could be represented by the coexistence of a matrix of pristine graphite and a foamy-like graphitic structure compressed along the c-axis. This material has a stable and strong ferromagnetic response even at room temperature where it can be attracted by any commercial magnet. At T=300 K, the saturation magnetic moment, the coercive field and the remnant magnetization are 0.25 emu/g, 350 Oe and 0.04 emu/g, respectively. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.