Magnetic Properties of Sol-gel Deposited Magnetite Thin Films

Iron oxide has found wide applications in spintronic materials / devices. Iron oxide exists in three crystallographic phases namely magnetite, maghemite and hematite. Among these phases synthesis of magnetite phase is extremely difficult due to its complex oxidation kinetics. We here report preparation of magnetite thin films using sol-gel method. The concentration of sol is varied as 1.6 mM, 1.2 mM and 0.8 mM. Pure magnetite phase is formed with sol concentration of 1.2 mM. The films change their preferred orientation from (400) to (220) plane with phase transition from magnetite to maghemite. This phase transition from maghemite to maghemite is accompanied by an increase in saturation magnetization of the films.