On the room temperature ferromagnetism of Mn doped ZnO

Room temperature ferromagnetism was observed in polycrystalline samples of Mn doped ZnO synthesized by low temperature solid-state reaction of MnO2 and ZnO. Co-doping it with Li did not improve its ferromagnetic characteristics. By studying the products obtained by reacting MnO2 and ZnO, using simple experimental techniques like XRD analysis and DC magnetization, we show that the observed room temperature ferromagnetism in Mn doped ZnO can be attributed to the substitutional incorporation of Mn at Zn-sites rather than due to the formation of segregated secondary phases.