A study was carried out on the conditions of formation of highly crystalline, superparamagnetic, nanosized oxides, M Fe II 2 III O 4 and g-Fe 2 O 3 (4.9-11.7 nm) by the thermal decomposition of complexes [MFe 2 O(CH 3 CO 2 ) 6 (H 2 O) 3 ] (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) in tetraethylene glycol. The presence of surfactants leads to a decrease in the size and size distribution of the nanoparticles formed, while the use of microwave radiation significantly reduces the time for formation of the nanocrystalline oxides. The magnetic measurements showed ferrimagnetic ordering in the nanoparticles studied and their superparamagnetic behavior.The increased interest in nanosized materials is due to their unusual physical and chemical properties in comparison with bulk analogs, which are attributed both to the increased surface area along with decreased particle size and various size effects [1][2][3][4]. In the case of nanoparticles of spinel oxides containing paramagnetic ions, this leads to a situation, in which the spin state S s of these ions on the surface differs significantly from the spin state S 0 of these ions within the particle. As a result, more uncompensated spins are concentrated on the surface than within the bulk of the nanocrystal [4] (S s >> S 0 ) and since the concentration of paramagnetic ions on the nanoparticle surface is comparable with their concentration within the particle, this leads to a significant change in the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles in comparison with bulk samples with the same composition. Hence, not only particle size (the size factor) but also particle shape and state (defectivity) will affect the magnetic properties. In turn, these factors and, thus, the properties of the nanoparticles depend considerably on the method and conditions of nanoparticle formation, i.e., the prehistory of the nanoparticles [5]. However, a study of the effect of these factors on the magnetic properties has not produced a proper explanation in the literature, primarily due to the lack of reliable methods for the preparation of nanomagnetic particles with given size characteristics and shape.Magnetic spinels are useful materials for the development of controlled methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Thus, nanosized ferrites are commonly used in modern electronics due to their magnetic properties in the recording of information, sensor devices, and catalysts for various oxidation-reduction reactions.0040-5760/07/4305-0353