Room temperature ferromagnetism in MnxZn1−xS (x = 0.00-0.07) nanoparticles

► Materials other than metal oxides show ferromagnetism. ► MnxZn1−xS with x = 0.05, 0.07 exhibits room temperature ferromagnetism. ► At 5 K, MnxZn1−xS with x = 0.07 exhibit super paramagnetic behavior. ► Incorporation of Mn in Zn crystallites induces donor-acceptor pair formation as dominant defect. ► The possibility of the ferromagnetism may be due to defects at the surface of the nanoparticles.