Preparation of cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles within a biopolymer template*

Using an in-situ co-precipitation reaction from solid dissolutions of stoichiometric amounts of Fe (III) and Co (II) inorganic salts, it was prepared highly loaded nanocomposites (as high as 75{\%} w/w) of cobalt-ferrite nanoparticles within a chitosan matrix, with particle size of about 7 nm, narrow particle size distribution and superparamagnetic character. Nanocomposite samples were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-vis spectrometry and magnetic measurements by SQUID, using magnetization-field dependent, M(H), and magnetization-temperature dependent, M(T), studies.