Structural, optical and magnetic properties of manganese zinc oxide thin films prepared by sol–gel dip coating method

• ZnO:Mn nano structured thin films were deposited on glass substrates by the sol–gel dip coating technique.
• XRD patterns of thin films have a hexagonal wurtzite structure.
• Optical studies show that the band gap of ZnO:Mn decreases from 3.75 to 2.76 eV with increase in withdrawal speed.
• Surface of thin films is granular in nature.

ZnO:Mn nano structured thin films were grown on glass substrates by the sol–gel dip coating technique at various withdrawal speed. Characterization techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and ellipsometry were carried out to study the effect of Mn doping on the optical and structural properties of a ZnO:Mn nanostructured thin films. XRD patterns of all nanostructured thin films show crystalline behavior and have a hexagonal wurtzite structure. XRD indicates that the secondary phase of ZnMnO3 is also formed. Optical investigation shows that the band gap of ZnO:Mn decreases from 3.75 to 2.76 eV with increase in withdrawal speed. The ZnO:Mn thin films show ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. The film surface is granular in nature and grains are spherical and uniformly distribute over the entire film. FTIR analysis also confirms the ZnO stretching mode at 431.41 cm−1 and MnO stretching mode at 497.55 and 536.47 cm−1.