Fe3O4–SiO2 nanocomposites obtained via alkoxide and colloidal route

The magnetic nanocomposite materials represent an important class of nanomaterials extensively studied nowadays due to their varied applications from medical diagnostic to storage information. The iron oxides in silica matrix systems are highly investigated. The sol-gel method is a suitable way of preparation of Fe₃O₄-SiO₂ nanocomposite materials, since this method allowed the preparation of nanocomposite materials with narrow size distribution of magnetite in silica matrix. In the present work, nanocomposite materials in the Fe₃O₄-SiO₂ system were prepared by sol-gel method via alkoxide and aqueous route. As SiO₂ sources, tetraethoxysilan (TEOS) for the alkoxide route, as well as silica sol Ludox (30%) for the aqueous route, were used. This study shows the influence of the type of silica matrix on the structure, size, and distribution of the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in the Fe₃O₄-SiO₂ systems. The gels were annealed at 550°C in order to consolidate the matrices. The structural characterization of the obtained materials via the two preparation routes was performed by DTA/TGA analysis, X-ray diffraction, IR and Mössbauer spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED).