Unusual ferromagnetism in high purity ZnO sintered ceramics

We report our novel result regarding the observation of unusual but clean ferromagnetic (FM) signature at room temperature (RT) in high pure (99.999%) ZnO bulk ceramics processed by slow step sintering schedule (SSSS). All the sintered samples showed ferromagnetic signature at room temperature. However, sample sintered at 850 °C showed more prominent M–H loop and saturation magnetization with respect to samples sintered at 500 °C and 1300 °C. Observation of FM behavior in sintered ceramics may be attributed to the presence of defects like cation (Zn)/anion (O) vacancies and interstitials created during the processing of sample. It is anticipated that SSSS promotes enhanced physical bulk as well as surface densification and at the same time confined the outgassing of free oxygen and Zn from the bulk which are acting as suitable defect sites inside the sintered grains and grain boundary junctions. Our micro-Raman and X-ray photoelectron studies revealed the existence of these defects which are believed to be the origin of the unconventional ferromagnetism (FM) of ZnO bulk ceramic at room temperature.