• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.154-158
• /
• 2008

Magnetite($Fe_3O_4$) is currently one of key materials for applications in magnetic storage and many bioinspired applications because bulk $Fe_3O_4$ has a high Curie temperature($Tc={\sim}850K$) and nearly full spin polarization at room temperature(RT). In this work, $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticles with different sizes of 12 to 15 nm were prepared in a well-controlled manner by a nonhydrolytic synthetic method. Here, we report the significant intergrain magneto-resistance(MR) of ${\sim}2%$ at RT in $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticle pellets. The tunneling conductance was also investigated based on the Brinkman model, as well. Our results show clearly that the surface or interfacial property of the particles plays a crucial role in the MR effect.