Magnetically-assisted synthesis of porous sol-gel magnetite matrices with structural anisotropy

•Hydrosol of pristine magnetite was synthesized by the US-assisted co-precipitation.•Structured hydrogels were formed by gelation in the presence of magnetic fields.•Drying of hydrogels under mild conditions resulted in anisotropic magnetite xerogels.•The textural properties of the materials dependent on the applied magnetic field.