Nanostructured magnetic films of iron oxides fabricated by laser electrodispersion

Nanostructured FeO films with an average nanoparticle size of the order of 6–10 nm were fabricated by laser electrodispersion. Annealing at $T$ = 300$^\circ$C in vacuum resulted in the disproportionation of FeO particles into Fe$_{3}$O$_{4}$ and $\alpha$-Fe, while the films exhibited a marked crystal orientation (texture with the [111] axis). The coercive force and the saturation magnetization of the synthesized nanostructured Fe$_{3}$O$_{4}/\alpha$-Fe films were as large as $\sim$660 Oe and $\sim$520 emu/cm$^3$, respectively. These values are considerably higher than the corresponding parameters of polycrystalline Fe$_{3}$O$_{4}$ films.