Magnetic and Optical Properties of Novel γ-Fe_2O_3/SiO_2 Nanocomposites Via Sol-Gel Matrix-Mediated Synthesis

摘要

V Superparamagnetic γ-Fe_2O_3 nanoclusters have been chemically synthesized via co-precipitation with a SiO_2 coating or ion-exchange in a novel suJfonated SiO_2 matrix. The well-dispersed particles from these synthetic routes display spherical and acicular morphologies, respectively. The Fe_2O_3 nanoclusters were identified as the γ-phase from Mossbauer data. The magnetic and optical studies also indicate that the interface between the nanoclusters and the host matrix is key to controlling and tailoring the overall magnetic and electronic properties of the nanocomposites.