Magnetoresistance property of magnetite-silica gel nanocomposite prepared by sol-gel process

Abstract

We prepared "quasi" granular type nanocomposites consisted of magnetite nanoparticles and silica gel in a very simple way, that is, the silica gel coating of magnetite by sol-gel method. The magnetic and electric conducting properties of the obtained composite, which were formed into a bulk shape by a sintering process, were examined. All the samples with and without silica gel layer shows magnetoresistance (MR) effect. The maximum MR ration was about 4% at 10 kOe of the applied magnetic field, which was larger than that of the non-coated sample.