Investigation of the properties of ferromagnetic ZnO:Cr2O3 nanocomposites

Present work focuses on the structural, optical and magnetic properties of ZnO:Cr2O3 nanocomposites. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized and the structure was confirmed using powder x-ray diffraction. ZnO nanoparticles was grown in the hexagonal wurtzite structure with the preferential orientation along (101) plane. ZnO:Cr2O3 composites have been synthesized by doping different concentration of Cr2O3 (1, 3 and 5 wt%) into ZnO. The incorporation of Cr2O3 was confirmed using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. UV–visible absorption spectra have been observed and interpreted for the determination of optical constants of ZnO:Cr2O3 composites. The optical constants like optical band gap, refractive index were determined and the effect of Cr2O3 on these constants was investigated. Relation between optical band gap and the refractive index were obtained. Magnetic studies using vibrating sample magnetometer reveal the ferromagnetism at 150 K in the composites with 3 and 5 wt% of Cr2O3.