Controllable synthesis and magnetic investigation of ZnO: Co nanowires and nanotubes

Zn1−xCoxO (x=0−0.12) nanowires have been synthesized by the electrophoretic deposition method using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as a template. Careful structural characterization indicates that the prepared nanowires are of poly-crystal wurtzite structure and composed with 10–20 nm nano-crystals. Magnetic investigation indicates the obtained nanowires are of room-temperature ferromagnetic. The magnetism increases with the increasing of Co-doping within the solubility limit 7%, but decreases sharply when x>7% for the presence of second-phase Co3O4. Tubular structural Zn1−xCoxO can also be fabricated by properly tuning the electrophoretic deposition potential and time. The mechanism of electrophoretic deposition is discussed in detail.

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► Zn1−xCoxO nanowire and nanotube arrays were controllably fabricated by an electrophoretic deposition method.
► The obtained nanowires and nanotubes are of room-temperature ferromagnetic.
► Second-phase Co3O4 clusters present in the sample with more than 7% Co dopant.
► The mechanism of electrophoretic deposition was discussed in detail.