Room temperature ferromagnetism in Cd1−xCrxTe diluted magnetic semiconductor crystals

Cd1−xCrxTe diluted magnetic semiconductor crystals were grown by vapor phase growth technique in the composition range of 0≤x≤0.05 and the effect of Cr doping on structural, morphological, optical and magnetic properties have been explored. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that all the grown crystals were zinc blende in structure without having any phase transition up to a Cr doping level of x=0.05. The lattice parameter decreased with increase in Cr doping level. Optical studies indicated that the optical band gap of the crystals decreased with the increase of Cr doping level. Magnetic properties were studied using vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature and room temperature ferromagnetism was observed in all the Cr doped CdTe crystals.