Abstract: Carbon encapsulated iron (Fe@C) nanocapsules were successfully prepared by pyrolyzing iron/starch composites under mild conditions, in which starch functioned as carbon precursor and stabilizer for iron nanoparticles. The asobtained Fe@C nanocapsules were examined by TEM, XRD and a vibrating sample magnetometer. Results show that the Fe@C nanocapsules with diameters in a narrow range of 3040nm feature wellconstructed core/shell structures, consisting of a bccFe core and a graphitic shell. The Fe@C nanocapsules have a low ratio of remanence to saturation magnetization (Mr/Ms = 0.11), implying that they are superparamagnetic at room temperature.