Formation Study of Nanocomposite Thin Films of Ferrite Dispersed in a Silica Matrix Prepared by sol-Gel Process

Magnetic nanocomposite thin films formed by cobalt ferrite dispersed in silica matrix were prepared by sol-gel process using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as a precursor of silica, and metallic nitrates as precursors of the ferrite. The films were prepared with 5–50 wt. % ferrite contents and deposited on substrate using the dip-coating process. The films obtained were adherent, transparent, homogeneous and free of microcracks, with thickness between 30 and 500 nm. The films obtained presented crystalline CoFe2O4 phases dispersed in SiO2 amorphous matrix and saturation magnetization of approximately 9 emu/g considering the composite mass and 30 emu/g considering the ferrite mass.