Ferromagnetic Behavior of High Purity ZnO nanoparticles

TL;DR

This study demonstrates ferromagnetic behavior in high purity ZnO nanoparticles across a wide temperature range, attributed to structural defects like oxygen vacancies, with potential implications for magnetic semiconductor applications.

Contribution

It reports ferromagnetism in high purity ZnO nanoparticles at room temperature and above, linking magnetic properties to structural defects such as oxygen vacancies.

Findings

Ferromagnetism observed from 2 K to above room temperature

Magnetization measurements confirm ferromagnetic behavior

Structural defects like oxygen vacancies are key factors

Abstract

ZnO nanoparticles with Wurtzite structure were prepared by chemical methods at low temperature in aqueous solution. Nanoparticles are in the range from about 10 to 30 nm. Ferromagnetic properties were observed from 2 K to room temperature and above. Magnetization vs temperature, M(T) and isothermal measurements M(H) were determined. The coercive field clearly shows ferromagnetism above room temperature. The chemical synthesis, structural defects in the bulk related to oxygen vacancies are the main factors for the observed magnetic behavior. PACS numbers: 61.46.Hk Nanocrystals, 75.50.Pp Magnetic semiconductors, 81.05.Dz II-VI semiconductors