Structural, optical and magnetic properties of Mn-doped ZnO thin films prepared by sol–gel method

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 334; pp. 52 - 58
• Main Authors: Yang, Shenghong, Zhang, Yueli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; DMS; Doping; Energy gaps (solid state); Exact sciences and technology; Ii-vi semiconductors; Magnetic properties; Manganese; Mn-doped ZnO; Optical properties; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of specific thin films; Physics; Room temperature ferromagnetism; Sol-gel processes; Sol–gel method; Thin films; X-rays; Zinc oxide; Room temperature ferromagnetism; DMS; Sol–gel method; Mn-doped ZnO; Impurity density; Sol-gel method; Doping; Photoluminescence; Magnetic hysteresis; Manganese additions; XRD; Preferred orientation; Thin films; Energy gap; Wurtzite structure; Zinc oxide; Ferromagnetism; Absorption spectra; Sol-gel process; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2013.01.026

Undoped and Mn-doped ZnO thin films were prepared on quartz glass and Si(100) substrates by the sol–gel method at room temperature, and the effects of Mn content on the structural, optical, and magnetic properties of these films were investigated. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that all the films are single phase and have wurtzite structure with (002) preferential orientation along c-axis, indicating there are not any secondary phases. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy patterns suggest that Mn2+ ions were successfully incorporated into the lattice position of Zn2+ ions in ZnO host. Optical transmittances of the films were recorded in the wavelength range of 300–800nm, and the band gaps of the films were determined. As the content of Mn increases, the crystallite size and the optical band gap of the films decrease while the crystalline quality deteriorates gradually. The intensity of photoluminescence spectra is suppressed with Mn doping. Magnetic measurements indicated that undoped ZnO was diamagnetic in nature whereas Mn-doped ZnO samples exhibited ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature, which is possibly related to the substitution of Mn2+ ions for Zn2+ ions in the ZnO lattice. It is also found that the Mn doping content can affect the ferromagnetic behavior of the films effectively. ► We prepared undoped and Mn-doped ZnO thin films by the sol–gel method. ► Studied the structural, morphological, optical and magnetic properties in detail. ► Band gap decreases with Mn concentration up to 7%. ► Mn-doped ZnO samples exhibited ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. ► The effects of Mn content on magnetic properties of Mn-doped ZnO thin films were investigated.