Structure, magnetic, and optical properties in Zn_0.98−xCu_0.02Fe_xO diluted magnetic semiconductors

Abstract

Cu-doped and Cu, Fe codoped ZnO diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) powders samples were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed the Zn 0.985 Cu 0.02 O and Zn 0.95 Fe 0.03 Cu 0.02 O samples were of single phase with the ZnO-like wurtzite structure. Magnetic measurements indicated that room-temperature ferromagnetism of Zn 0.98 Cu 0.02 O was intrinsic in nature and the saturation magnetization of Zn 0.98 Cu 0.02 O DMSs increased after Fe doping. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements showed that the intensity of the ultraviolet (UV) emission band and the visible-light emission band of Zn 0.95 Cu 0.02 Fe 0.03 O samples increased and the UV emission peak exhibited blue shift compared to Zn 0.98 Cu 0.02 O samples.

Effects of different sintering atmosphere on the structure and properties of Cu-doped ZnO powders prepared by sol–gel method

“…Diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs), i.e., semiconductors with dilute concentration of magnetic dopants have attracted much interest due to their potential applications in spintronic devices which utilize both the charge and the spin of electrons to create new functionalities beyond conventional semiconductors [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Dietl et al [13] proposed a mean-field Zener model to understand the ferromagnetism in DMSs materials.…”