Structural, optical and magnetic properties of Cr doped ZnO microrods prepared by spray pyrolysis method

► This paper deals with the possible effects of Cr doping on the structural, optical and magnetic properties of ZnO micro-rods. ► X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies show that the electron binding energy of the Cr in ZnO is almost the same as the binding energy of Cr3+ states in Cr2O3. ► Photoluminescence studies at 10 K show that the incorporation of chromium leads to a relative increase of deep level band intensity. ► Magnetic measurements indicated that the Cr-doped ZnO samples show ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature.