Ferromagnetism in Fe-doped ZnO bulk samples

Polycrystalline bulk samples with a nominal composition Zn1−xFexO (x=0–3%) were prepared by a coprecipitation method. The XRD structure analysis shows that the x⩽2% samples are of single phase with the ZnO-like wurtzite structure, while a secondary phase ZnFe2O4 is observed in the x=3% sample. Magnetization measurement indicates that all samples are ferromagnetic at 300 K, and magnetization increases with the increasing Fe content x. The secondary phase ZnFe2O4 results in the onset of antiferromagnetism, but does not have a crucial effect on magnetic moment.