Structural, optical and magnetic properties of (In1−xNix)2O3 (0≤x≤0.09) powders synthesized by solid state reaction

Nickel-doped indium oxide diluted magnetic semiconducting powders ((In1−xNix)2O3, x=0.00, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07 and 0.09) were synthesized by a simple solid state reaction followed by vacuum annealing. Structural, optical and magnetic properties of (In1−xNix)2O3 powders were studied as a function of doped Ni concentration. X-ray diffraction confirmed polycrystalline cubic structures. Decrease in optical band gap from 3.07 eV to 2.99 eV was observed when dopant concentration of Ni was increased from x=0.03 to x=0.07. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements confirmed that all (In1−xNix)2O3 powders were ferromagnetic at room temperature.