Magnetotransport properties depending on the nanostructure of Fe3O4 nanowires

We have studied the magnetic behaviour of Fe3O4 nanowires (NWs) with two different diameter ranges, above 150 nm and below 60 nm, made by electrodeposition techniques into a polymeric template. The nanowires were characterized using various techniques, in particular Mossbauer and thermoelectrical power measurements. The stoichiometric distribution of Fe cations showed clearly the presence of the magnetite inverse spinel electronic structure. Structural analysis performed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed two kinds of nanowire morphologies depending on the size. For nanowires above 150 nm in diameter, a contiguous network of well-bound nanoparticles was obtained. Instead, with a diameter of 60 nm, a polycrystalline structure was observed. The largest nanowires presented a magnetoresistance (MR) greater than 10%, whereas the thinner nanowires had almost none.