Optical properties of γ-ferric oxide nanoparticles in a mesoporous silica matrix

Magnetic γ-Fe2O3/SiO2 nanocomposites have been synthesized by impregnating a mesoporous silica matrix with a hexane solution of γ-ferric oxide nanoparticles. The subsequent heat treatment of samples in the course of synthesis influences the optical properties of the final nanostructural material. It is established that an increase in the temperature of annealing (crystallization) leads to a decrease in the energies of both direct and indirect allowed electron transitions to the conduction band.