Structural and magnetic properties of Zn1-xcoxO nanorods prepared by microwave irradiation technique

We have successfully synthesized large-scale aggregative flowerlike Zn1-xCo(x)O (0.0 < or = x < or = 0.07) nanostructures, consisting of many branches of nanorods at different orientations with diameter within 100-150 nm (tip diameter approximately 50 nm) and length of approximately 1 microm. The rods were prepared using Zinc nitrate, cobalt nitrate and KOH in 180 Watt microwave radiation for short time interval. The synthesized nanorods were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM) and DC magnetization measurements. XRD and TEM results indicate that the novel flowerlike nanostructures are hexagonal with wurtzite structure and Co ions were successfully incorporated into the lattice position of Zn ions in ZnO matrix. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern reveals that the nanorods are single crystal in nature and preferentially grow along [0 0 1] direction. Magnetic studies show that Zn1-xCo(x)O nanorods exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism. This novel nanostructure could be a promising candidate for a variety of future spintronic applications.     

低温生长Zn1-xCoxO(x=0.33)薄膜的微结构和磁性

用电子束反应蒸镀法在低温生长了Zn1-xCoxO薄膜.Co含量x高达0.33的Zn1-xCoxO薄膜仍具有类ZnO的纤锌矿结构,没有杂质相,Co的化合价为 2.场冷和零场冷M-T及M-H曲线表明,Zn1-xCoxO(x=0.33)薄膜在低温下具有铁磁性;随着温度的升高,其剩磁和矫顽力均逐渐下降,在65 K以上趋于零,显示出超顺磁性.Zn1xCoxO薄膜的低温铁磁性起源于Co2 离子之间的双交换相互作用及载流子诱导的sP d交换耦合作用,而从低温(＜65 K)铁磁态到高温(＞65 K)超顺磁态的转变可归因于薄膜的纳米晶小尺寸效应.     

Effect of reducing atmosphere on the magnetism of Zn(1-x)Co(x)O (0≤x≤0.10) nanoparticles

We report the crystal structure and magnetic properties of Zn(1-x)Co(x)O?(0≤x≤0.10) nanoparticles synthesized by heating metal acetates in organic solvent. The nanoparticles were crystallized in the wurtzite ZnO structure after annealing in air and in a forming gas (Ar95%?+?H5%). The x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) data for different Co content show clear evidence for the Co(2+) ions in tetrahedral symmetry, indicating the substitution of Co(2+) in the ZnO lattice. However, samples with x = 0.08 and higher cobalt content also indicate the presence of Co metal clusters. Only those samples annealed in the reducing atmosphere of the forming gas, that showed the presence of oxygen vacancies, exhibited ferromagnetism at room temperature. The air annealed samples remained non-magnetic down to 77?K. The essential ingredient in achieving room temperature ferromagnetism in these Zn(1-x)Co(x)O nanoparticles was found to be the presence of additional carriers generated by the presence of the oxygen vacancies.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Ni doped CeO2 nanoparticles

We report room temperature ferromagnetism in Ni doped CeO2 nanoparticles using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and dc magnetization measurements. Nanoparticles of Ce(1-x)Ni(x)O2 (0.0 < or = x < or = 0.10) were prepared by using a co-precipitation method. XRD measurements indicate that all samples exhibit single phase nature with cubic structure and ruled out the presence of any secondary phase. Lattice parameters, strain and particle size calculated from XRD data have been found to decrease with increase in Ni doping. Inter-planner distance measured from HR-TEM images for different Ni doped samples indicate that Ni ions are substituting Ce ions in CeO2 matrix. Magnetization measurements performed at room temperature display weak ferromagnetic behavior of Ce(1-x)Ni(x)O2 (0.0 < or = x < or = 0.10) nanoparticles. Magnetic moment calculated from magnetic hysteresis loop was found to increases with Ni doping up to 7% and then start decreasing with further doping.     

Spectroscopic study of Zn1−xCoxO thin films showing intrinsic ferromagnetism

Dilute magnetic semiconductors are widely studied due to their potential applications in spin-resolved electronics. We report the direct evidences of intrinsic ferromagnetism in the primarily ferromagnetic ZnO:Co thin films using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The single phase Zn_1−xCo_xO thin films with nominal compositions (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) were synthesized by a spray pyrolysis technique, which exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism as revealed by alternating gradient force magnetometer (AGFM) measurements. The spectroscopic measurements indicate that most of Co dopants have substituted for Zn sites in ZnO matrix and they are present in divalent Co²⁺ (d⁷) state with tetrahedral symmetry according to the atomic multiplet calculations. The O 1s NEXAFS spectra suggest strong hybridization between O 2p and Co 3d electrons within ZnO matrix. The Co 2p XMCD measurements rule out the magnetism due to the presence of Co clusters, and show that Co–O–Co bonding provides localized magnetic moments leading to ferromagnetism.     

CoxR1-xAl2O4(R=Zn,Mg)钴蓝颜料反射性能的研究

采用化学共沉淀法成功地制备出适用于彩电显象管内荧光体着色的Ｃｏ_ｘＲ_１－ｘＡｌ_２Ｏ_４（Ｒ＝Ｚｎ、 Ｍｇ, ｘ＝０．８～１．０）钴蓝颜料： ４５０ｎｍ波长处反射率最大提高１８．２％, ６００ｎｍ处反射率最大降低５％。通过对该颜料反射率的影响因素,如掺杂离子类型、掺杂浓度和Ｃｏ^２＋离子浓度的探讨,结论如下：Ｚｎ^２＋、Ｍｇ^２＋改变钴蓝颜料反射性能的作用机理为晶格畸变引起Ｃｏ^２＋３ｄ轨道电子能级分裂程度的变化;对于掺杂离子Ｚｎ^２＋、Ｍｇ^２＋,ｘ下限值分别约为０．８５和０．８．     

Size dependent magnetization and high-vacuum annealing enhanced ferromagnetism in Zn(1-x)Co(x)O nanowires

Diameter controllable ZnO nanowires have been fabricated by thermal evaporation (vapor transport) with various sizes of gold nanoparticles as catalysts. Diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) Zn(1-x)Co(x)O nanowires were then made by high energy Co ion implantation. The as-implanted and the argon-annealed Zn(1-x)Co(x)O nanowires displayed weak ferromagnetism while the high-vacuum annealed nanowires exhibited strong ferromagnetic ordering at room temperature. Size dependent behavior has been observed in the magnetic field and temperature dependences of magnetization. The shrinkage of the nanowire diameter reduced the spontaneous magnetization as well as the hysteresis loops. Field cooled and zero-field cooled magnetization and coercivity measurements were performed between 2 and 300 K to study the evolution of magnetism from the weak to the strong ferromagnetic states. In particular, superparamagnetic features were observed and shown to be intrinsic characteristics of the DMS Zn(1-x)Co(x)O nanowires. The room-temperature spontaneous magnetization of individual Zn(1-x)Co(x)O nanowires was also established by using magnetic force microscope measurements.     

Growth-Temperature Dependence of Magnetic and Magneto-Transport Properties of Epitaxially Grown MnAs/GaAs Hybrid Multilayers

We successfully fabricated epitaxial MnAs/GaAs multilayers with a total thickness of 300 nm using molecular beam epitaxy. The periodicity of the samples was fixed at 5 nm/5 nm and the growth-temperature dependence of the magnetic and magneto-transport properties were studied. All samples studied exhibited ferromagnetism above room temperature. The magnetic anisotropy and magnetoresistance are strongly dependent on the growth temperature. These results indicate that it is possible to manipulate the magnetic and magneto-transport properties by changing the growth temperature.     

Structural and magnetic study of a diluted magnetic semiconductor: Fe-doped CeO2 nanoparticles

This paper reports the effect of Fe doping on the structure and room temperature ferromagnetism of CeO2 nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction and the selective area electron diffraction measurements performed on the Ce(1-x)Fe(x)O2 (0 < or = x < or = 0.07) nanoparticles showed a single-phase nature with a cubic structure, and none of the samples showed the presence of any secondary phase. The mean particle size, which was calculated using transmission electron microscopy, increased with the increase in the Fe content. The DC magnetization measurements that were performed at room temperature showed that all the samples exhibited ferromagnetism. The saturation magnetic moment increased with the increase in the Fe content.     

Room temperature ferromagnetism in Co-incorporated TiO2 thin films

Observation of room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) in nano-crystalline Co-incorporated titanium dioxide [Ti(1-x)Co(x)O2(x = 0.05)] thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique is reported. While only the anatase phase was detected in as-deposited 5 at.% Co-incorporated TiO2 film, a small amount of rutile phase developed following its vacuum annealing. Besides, no X-ray diffraction peak corresponding to cobalt metal could be detected in any of the two films. SQUID magnetometry of both pristine and Co-doped thin films at room temperature elucidated distinct ferromagnetic behavior in 5 at.% Co-incorporated as-deposited film with saturation moment M(s) approximately 5.6 emu/cm3 which got enhanced up to 11.8 emu/cm3 on subsequent vacuum annealing. From the zero field cooled magnetization measurement we confirmed the absence of Co-metal clusters. The electrical resistivity was found to be greater than 108 omega-cm for the films. Based on the magnetic and electrical measurements the origin of RTFM has been attributed to the bound magnetic polaron (BMP) model.     

Structural, optical and magnetic properties of Co-doped ZnO nanorods with hidden secondary phases

Co-doped ZnO nanorods (composition: Zn(0.955)Co(0.045)O) were grown by a simple surfactant-assisted hydrothermal technique. The morphological, structural, optical and magnetic properties of the as-prepared nanorods were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, micro-cathodoluminescence, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The results showed that the sample had rod-like morphology and that the preferential growth direction was along the c axis. While Co was successfully doped into the ZnO wurtzite lattice structure as revealed by several characterization techniques, hidden secondary phases of Zn(y)Co(3-y)O(4) (0≤y≤1) were also clearly detected by the micro-Raman spectroscopic technique. We propose that the predominant diffusion-limited Ostwald ripening crystal growth mechanism under the hydrothermal coarsening yielded such phase segregation. VSM results showed that the nanorods displayed relatively weak room-temperature ferromagnetism. We suggest that the origin of the ferromagnetism is probably due to the presence of the mixed cation valence of Co via a d-d double-exchange mechanism rather than the real doping effect. It is essential to control the crystal growth mechanism and defect states associated with the ferromagnetism in order to realize the intrinsic diluted magnetic semiconductors.     

Towards dilute magnetic semiconductors: Fe and Co substituted inorganic-organic hybrid materials based on ZnSe

Inorganic-organic hybrid nanostructures doped with magnetic ions have been synthesized via substitution of Zn by Co or Fe in the ZnSe(L)0.5 systems under solvothermal conditions. These dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMS), Zn(1-x)MxSe(L)0.5 (M = Co, Fe; L = ethylenediamine or en, 1,3-propanediamine or pda; 0 < x < 1), are composed of perfectly ordered Zn(1-x)MxSe semiconductor monolayers interconnected by organic diamine molecules. The large blue shifts in their optical absorption edges (approximately 1.1-1.5 eV) compared to the bulk ZnSe are a direct result of a very strong quantum confinement effect (QCE). Magnetic studies show that there exist antiferromagnetic interactions between the Co or Fe centers in the structures and the interaction is enhanced as the doping concentration increases. The introduction of Fe or Co to hybrid inorganic-organic semiconductors provides a promising route to generate materials that combine the advantageous features of inorganic, organic, and magnetic functionalities in a single structure.     

尖晶石结构Ni掺杂ZnFe2O4纳米颗粒的性能表征

利用水热法成功合成了纯ZnFe2O4和不同含量Ni掺杂Zn1-xNixFe2O4纳米颗粒。采用X射线衍射(XRD)、高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)、选区电子衍射(SAED)、X射线能量色散分析(XEDS)、紫外可见吸收光谱(UV-Vis)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)和振动样品磁强计(VSM)等测试技术研究掺杂浓度对Zn1-xNixFe2O4(x=0,0.1,0.3,0.5)样品的晶体结构、形貌、光学性能和磁学性能的影响。结果表明:所制备的Zn1-xNixFe2O4纳米颗粒结晶良好,Ni2+以替代Zn2+的形式掺杂到ZnFe2O4晶格中,生成立方尖晶石结构ZnFe2O4。随着Ni含量的增加,晶粒尺寸增大,晶格常数发生收缩。样品的形貌呈不规则的椭球形,且颗粒大小比较均匀。红外光谱的吸收峰位置并没有随Ni掺杂浓度的增加而变化。Zn1-xNixFe2O4纳米晶的光学带隙随Ni掺杂浓度增加而增大,与相应块体相比发生蓝移。在室温下,纯ZnFe2O4纳米晶呈现超顺磁性,掺杂样品具有明显的铁磁性。     

Intrinsic room temperature ferromagnetism in Zn0.92Co0.08O thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Zn_0.92Co_0.08O thin films were fabricated on p-type Si (100) and quartz substrates by pulsed laser deposition using a ZnCoO ceramic target. The structural and magnetic properties of the films were characterized by field emission scan electronic microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, UV-visible transmission spectra, extended x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and physical property measurement system. Substitutional doping of Co²⁺ in ZnO lattice is demonstrated in the films. The as-deposited Zn_0.92Co_0.08O thin film displayed intrinsic room temperature ferromagnetism with saturation magnetization (M_s) of ~ 0.20μ_B/Co. The corresponding M_s increased to ~ 0.23μ_B/Co when annealed in vacuum and further to ~ 0.42μ_B/Co after annealed in hydrogen. In turn, the M_s dropped to the value of ~ 0.13μ_B/Co after annealed in oxygen. Our studies indicate that oxygen vacancy density plays a key role in mediating the ferromagnetism of the diluted magnetic semiconductor films.     

Physical properties of amorphous Mo-doped In–Ga–Zn–O films grown by magnetron co-sputtering technique

Amorphous thin films of In–Ga–Zn–O (a-IGZO) doped with Mo have been fabricated by using magnetron co-sputtering technique. The Mo concentration in a-IGZO films was modulated by varying the sputtering power applied on the Mo target. The electrical, optical and magnetic properties of Mo-doped a-IGZO films grown on glasses were investigated. The carrier density and mobility of a-IGZO films can be remarkably enhanced by low concentration Mo doping. On the other hand, the optical bandgap of a-IGZO films is not significantly affected by Mo doping. However, the transmission is decreased with increasing the Mo doping. Moreover, all Mo-doped films exhibit room-temperature ferromagnetism.     

掺杂Mg对纳米CoFe2O4/SiO2复合薄膜结构和磁性的影响

采用溶胶-凝胶旋涂法制备了纳米Co_1-xMg _xFe₂O₄/SiO₂(x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) 复合薄膜。利用XRD、SEM、原子力显微镜、振动样品磁强计对薄膜的结构、形貌和磁性进行了分析, 研究了Mg²⁺含量对样品结构和磁性的影响。结果表明, 样品中Co_1-xMg _xFe₂O₄具有尖晶石结构, 晶粒尺寸在38~46 nm之间。随着Mg²⁺含量的增加, Co_1-xMg _xFe₂O₄的晶格常数减小, 样品的饱和磁化强度减小, 矫顽力先增大后减小。样品Co_0.4Mg_0.6Fe₂O₄/SiO₂垂直和平行膜面的矫顽力分别为350.7 kA·m^-1和279.4 kA·m^-1, 剩磁比分别为67.2%和53.9%, Co_1-xMg _xFe₂O₄/SiO₂复合薄膜具有较明显的垂直磁各向异性。     

Microstructure and crystallization kinetics analysis of the (In15Sb85)(100-x)Zn(x) phase change recording thin films

The (In15Sb85)(100-x)Zn(x) films (x = 0 - 17.4) were deposited on nature oxidized Si wafer and glass substrate at room temperature by magnetron co-sputtering of Sb target and InZn composite target. The thermal property of the films was examined by a homemade reflectivity thermal analyzer. Microstructures of the films were analyzed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). We examined the effects of Zn addition on the thermal property, crystallization kinetics, and crystallization mechanism of the In15Sb85 recording film. As x = 0 - 17.4, thermal analysis shows that the (In15Sb85)(100-x)Zn(x) films have two phase transition temperature ranges which are 189 degrees C-215 degrees C and 300 degrees C-350 degrees C. It is found that the activation energy is increased with Zn content. This indicates that the thermal stability of amorphous state is improved by doping Zn. The optical contrasts of the films are all larger than 15%, as x = 0 - 6.2, indicating that the films have the potential in blue laser optical recording media application.     

Metal doping effects in NIR Raman spectra of YBCO epitaxial films

Metal doping (Co, Zn) of YBCO epitaxial thin films leads to large changes of the scattering efficiencies of various lattice modes in near-infrared (NIR) -Raman spectra (1064 nm) if it is accompanied by a variation of the charge carrier concentration. The results resemble earlier observations in oxygen depleted YBCO thin films. In contrast, no effect is found when metal doping does not change the carrier concentration even if it leads to a massive T_c suppression.     

Room temperature ferromagnetism in Co doped ZnO within an optimal doping level of 5%

We report on the structural, micro-structural and magnetic properties of Zn_1?xCo_xO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) system. Electron probe micro-structural analysis on 5% Co doped ZnO indicates the presence of segregated cobalt oxide which is also confirmed from the Co 2p core level X-ray photoelectron spectrum. The presence of oxygen defects in lower percentage of Co doped ZnO (≤5%) enhances the carrier mediated exchange interaction and thereby enhancing the room-temperature ferromagnetic behaviour. Higher doping percentage of cobalt (>5%) creates weak link between the grains and suppresses the carrier mediated exchange interaction. This is the reason why room temperature ferromagnetism is not observed in 7% and 10% Co doped ZnO.     

Doping effects of Co(2+) ions on ZnO nanorods and their photocatalytic properties

A series of Zn(1-x)Co(x)O nanorods with dopant content ranging from x = 0.00 to 0.10 was prepared by a wet chemical method. All Zn(1-x)Co(x)O samples were investigated by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersion x-ray line mapping analysis, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. It was found that Co(2+) ions were homogeneously substituted for Zn(2+) ions in ZnO nanorods. Rhodamine B degradation was used as a probe reaction to evaluate the effect of Co(2+) doping on ZnO nanorods and photocatalytic performance under UV light and visible light irradiation. Co(2+) ions acted as the trapping or recombination centers for electrons and holes, leading to a reduction in photodegradation efficiency under UV light illumination. Alternatively, Co(2+) ions enhanced the optical absorption and produced the photoinduced carriers under visible illumination in terms of two charge transfer transitions involving Co(2+) ions. Consequently, Co(2+) ions substituted in the lattice of ZnO nanorods significantly improved the visible light photocatalytic activity.