The Structural and Magnetic Properties of Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor Zn sub(1-x)Ni sub(x)O Nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of superconductivity and novel magnetism Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 1821 - 1826
• Main Authors: Shayesteh, SFarjami, Nosrati, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-06-2015
• Subjects: Annealing; Ferromagnetism; Magnetic properties; Magnetic saturation; Nanoparticles; Nickel; Saturation (magnetic); Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 1557-1939; 1557-1947
• DOI: 10.1007/s10948-015-2950-8

In this research, Ni-doped ZnO (Zn sub(1-x)Ni sub(x)O: x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08) nanoparticles have been synthesized using a simple wet chemical precipitation method. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals the Ni-doped ZnO crystallized in a hexagonal wurtzite structure and confirming phase purity. The lattice parameters of Ni-doped ZnO decreased slightly with increasing doping concentration. The vibrating sample magnetometry measurement results of samples at room temperatures and annealed at 400 degree C show a weak magnetic hysteresis loop that confirms the ferromagnetic properties of the samples. The origin of magnetic behavior in Ni-doped ZnO could be the presence of O vacancies and exchange interaction between Ni ions. Also, the magnetic saturation of the samples increased with increasing Ni concentration in the range of 1.2 10 super(-3) to 5.0 10 super(-3) (emu/g). The effects of annealing on the morphology of Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The crystallite size of the nanoparticles increased and the magnetic saturation decreased slightly at the annealing temperature 400 degree C.