The physical properties of nanocomposite materials consisting of metallic nanocrystals NCs
embedded in a dielectric matrix greatly differ from their respective bulk materials. They
depend not only on the choice of NC and matrix materials but also on the size, shape, and
surface effects related to the small nanocrystal size. 1–5 These materials present very
interesting electrical, optical, or magnetic properties that are of potential interest in different
applications. Noble metal Au, Ag, and Cu NCs embedded in matrices such as SiO2 or Al2O3 …

Structured nanocomposite films consisting of five Fe layers embedded in an amorphous
Al2O3 matrix (Fe: Al₂O₃) have been grown by sequential pulsed laser deposition. The
formation of well isolated quasispherical nanocrystals is observed for samples with Fe
content per layer close to 6.5× 10¹⁵ atoms/cm². Increasing the Fe content leads first to the
formation of elongated nanocrystals and then to quasicontinuous layers. The evolution in the
shape and size of the nanocrystals is reflected in the magnetic behavior of these systems. A …