Synthesis of ferrite on SiO2 spheres for three-dimensional magneto-photonic crystals.

This article reports the preparation of submicrometric magnetic particles which are promising parts for fabrication of three-dimensional magneto-photonic crystals. In our experiments SiO₂ spheres with diameter of about 260 nm were coated with Fe₃O₄ fine particles from an aqueous solution at room temperature. It is found that spheres coated with Fe₃O₄ fine particles with a diameter of about 20 nm are synthesized when the ratio of Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ is in the range 50%–100% and the pH value is in the range 8–10. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]