Magnetite nanoparticles have been prepared by electrooxidation of iron in water. Surface modifications have been conducted by coating the nanoparticles with silica by a one-step synthesis in dilute sodium silicate solution. The mean size of particles was approximately 10-30 nm for the uncoated particles and 9-12 nm for the coated particles. The results obtained from thermal gravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) revealed that the silica layer formed by the electrochemical method was stable and could serve as a protective layer. Annealing the nanoparticles at 550 degrees C for 30 min converts magnetite into maghemite for the silica-coated particles, and it further converts the uncoated particles into hematite. The conversions cause the saturation magnetization to decrease for all samples. (C) 2012 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.