Magnetic properties of sol-gel-derived doped ZnO as a potential ferromagnetic semiconductor: a synchrotron-based study

DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/10/5/055012

Authors: N. R. S. Farley (University of Nottingham) , C. R. Staddon (University of Nottingham) , D. H. Gregory (University of Nottingham) , B. L. Gallagher (University of Nottingham) , A. A. Freeman (University of Nottingham) , G. Van Der Laan (Daresbury Laboratory; Diamond Light Source) , K. W. Edmonds (University of Nottingham)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: New Journal Of Physics , VOL 10 , PAGES 055012-1/11

State: Published (Approved)
Published: May 2008

Abstract: A variety of x-ray techniques is employed to investigate sol-gel-synthesized Co- and Mn-doped ZnO films. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the dominant structure is the c-axis orientated wurtzite ZnO. Dopant K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) indicate that the Co and Mn ions are fourfold co-ordinated with valency 2+/3+ and 3+/4+, respectively. Surface-sensitive dopant L-edge XANES and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) for the Co dopant are well described by atomic multiplet calculations for tetrahedral Co2+, while for Mn the data indicate that the symmetry is lowered due to Jahn–Teller distortion. The XMCD show conclusively that both Co- and Mn-doped ZnO films are purely paramagnetic.

Subject Areas: Physics


Instruments: NONE-No attached Diamond beamline