Synthesis and structural, magnetic characterization of nanocrystalline Zn1-xCoxO diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) synthesized by combustion reaction

Nanocrystalline Co+2 doped Zn1−xCoxO, where x = 0.02, 0.03, 0.07 and 0.1 mol of Co+2 diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS), were synthesized by combustion reaction for spintronic applications. The effects of Co+2 ion doping on the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of ZnO ware investigated. The products of the reactions were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption (BET), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and magnetic measurements (VSM). XRD spectra data revealed the formation of a ZnO phase (removed text), indicating that the synthesis was efficient in diluting the Co+2 ions in the ZnO lattice. Increasing the Co2+ ion concentrations reduced the maximum reaction and ignition temperature and contributed to reduce crystallite and particle sizes. The samples showed the typical behavior of soft magnetic materials at all the Co2+ concentrations evaluated here. The Curie temperature (Tc) was higher than room temperature at all the Co2+ concentrations.