Microstructure and Magnetic State of Fe3O4-SiO2 Colloidal Particles

Colloidal particles consisted of individual nanosized magnetite grains on the surface of the silica cores were obtained by two-stage sol-gel technique. Size distribution and microstructure of the particles were analyzed using atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Nitrogen thermal desorption. Magnetic properties of the particles were studied by the method of the longitudinal nonlinear response. It has been shown that nanoparticles of magnetite have a size corresponding to a superparamagnetic state but exhibit hysteresis properties. The phenomenon was explained using the magnetostatic interaction model based on the hypothesis of iron oxide particles cluster aggregation on the silica surface.