Identifying the sources of ferromagnetism in sol-gel synthesized Zn{sub 1−x}Co{sub x}O (0≤x≤0.10) nanoparticles

Journal Article · Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSSC.2016.05.013· OSTI ID:22584175

Barrero, C. A. ^[1]; Punnoose, A. ^[2]

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1. Grupo de Estado Sólido, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Calle 70 No 52-21, Medellín (Colombia)
2. Department of Physics, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725-1570 (United States)

We have carefully investigated the structural, optical and electronic properties and related them with changes in the magnetism of sol-gel synthesized Zn{sub 1−x}Co{sub x}O (0≤x≤0.10) nanoparticles. Samples with x≤0.05 were free of spurious phases. Samples with x≤0.03 were found to be with only high spin Co{sup 2+} ions into ZnO structure, whereas sample with x=0.05, exhibited the presence of high spin Co{sup 2+} and low spin Co{sup 3+}. We found that the intensity of the main EPR peak associated with Co{sup 2+} varies with the nominal Co content in a similar manner as the saturation magnetization and coercive field do. These results point out that the ferromagnetism in these samples should directly be correlated with the presence of divalent cobalt ions. Bound magnetic polaron (BMP) model and the charge transfer model are insufficient to explain the ferromagnetic properties of Zn{sub 1−x}Co{sub x}O nanoparticles. The room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) may be originated from a combination of several factors such as the interaction of high spin Co{sup 2+} ions, perturbation/alteration and/or changes in the electronic structure of ZnO close to the valence band edge and grain boundary effects. - Graphical abstract: The intensity of the main EPR peak associated with Co{sup 2+} varies with the nominal Co content in a similar manner as the saturation magnetization and coercive field do. These results point out that the ferromagnetism in these samples should directly be correlated with the presence of Co{sup 2+} ions. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Systematic and carefully study of physical-chemical properties of Zn{sub 1−x}Co{sub x}O nanoparticles. • Samples with x=0.01 and 0.03 were found to be with only high spin Co{sup 2+}. • Sample with x=0.05, exhibited the presence of high spin Co{sup 2+} and low spin Co{sup 3+}. • The BMP and charge transfer models seem not explain the ferromagnetic properties. • RTFM: high spin Co{sup 2+} ions, defects close to the valence band and grain boundary effects.

• OSTI ID: 22584175
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Vol. 240; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0022-4596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ABSORPTION
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COBALT IONS
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
FERROMAGNETISM
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
INTERACTIONS
MAGNETIZATION
NANOPARTICLES
PEAKS
PERTURBATION THEORY
SOL-GEL PROCESS
SPIN
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ZINC OXIDES