Fabrication and characterization of windmill Zn1−xCoxO structures for transparent spintronics

An oxide diluted magnetic semiconductor, windmill Zn1−xCoxO (x=0.05) was successfully synthesized by using a vapor phase deposition method. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy studies demonstrate that the windmill Zn1−xCoxO structures are of single crystal exhibiting a wurtzite phase. The structures show ferromagnetic behavior below a Curie temperature of ∼50 K. Photoluminescence spectra of the structures show near-band-edge emission of ZnO is not obviously affected by the doping of cobalt. Their absorption spectra indicate the transparence of the Zn1−xCoxO structures in the visible region. These results suggest that the Zn1−xCoxO structures have great potential applications in transparent spintronics and magnetic-optical devices.