Structural, optical, XPS and magnetic properties of Zn particles capped by ZnO nanoparticles

• Levitation-jet aerosol synthesis of Zn particles capped by ZnO nanoparticles (NPs).
• TEM, XRD, UV–vis, FT-IR, Raman, XPS and magnetic characterization of the NPs.
• Correlation between unit-cell volume of crystal lattice and maximum magnetization.

Spherical zinc particles ranging from 42 to 760 nm in average size and capped with plate-like zinc oxide particles of 10–30 nm in sizes have been prepared by levitation-jet aerosol synthesis through condensation of zinc vapor in an inert/oxidizer gas flow. The nanoparticles have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET measurements, ultra violet visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), and vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM). Magnetic and XRD data indicate that the observed ferromagnetic ordering related to the changes in unit-cell volume of Zn in the Zn/ZnO interface of the nanoparticles. These results are in good correlation with the optical measurements data.

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