Nanostructure and giant Hall effect in TMx(SiO2)1−x (TM=Co,Fe,Ni) granular system

Granular TMx(SiO2)1−x (TM=Co,Fe,Ni) thin films were thermally treated at different temperatures and their magnetotransport and structural properties were studied. Hall resistivity decreases with thermal annealing. Structure was analyzed based on small angle x-ray scattering results. A model of polydisperse system of hard spheres was used for obtaining structural parameters. Analysis reveals that a volume fraction of transition-metal atoms (less than 29%) are forming nanospheres. Changes in giant Hall effect upon annealing can depend on a particular combination of nanoparticle diameter, interparticle distance, and size distribution.