Defects induced ferromagnetism in Mn doped ZnO

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that defect engineering via milling time in Mn-doped ZnO enhances room-temperature ferromagnetism, with vacancy defects playing a crucial role in magnetic ordering.

Contribution

It reveals the correlation between milling-induced defects and ferromagnetism, highlighting the importance of vacancy defects in Mn-doped ZnO.

Findings

All samples exhibit room-temperature ferromagnetism.

Maximum saturation magnetization achieved with 96 hours milling.

Resistivity increases with milling time, correlating with magnetic properties.

Abstract

Single phase Mn doped (2 at %) ZnO samples have been synthesized by solid-state reaction technique. Before the final sintering at 500 C, the mixed powders have been milled for different milling periods (6, 24, 48 and 96 hours). The grain sizes of the samples are very close to each other (~ 32 \pm 4 nm). However, the defective state of the samples is different from each other as manifested from the variation of magnetic properties and electrical resistivity with milling time. All the samples have been found to be ferromagnetic with clear hysteresis loops at room temperature. The maximum value for saturation magnetization (0.11 {\mu}_B / Mn atom) was achieved for 96 hours milled sample. Electrical resistivity has been found to increase with increasing milling time. The most resistive sample bears the largest saturation magnetization. Variation of average positron lifetime with milling time bears a close similarity with that of the saturation magnetization. This indicates the key role played by open volume vacancy defects, presumably zinc vacancies near grain surfaces, in inducing ferromagnetic order in Mn doped ZnO. To attain optimum defect configuration favorable for ferromagnetism in this kind of samples proper choice of milling period and annealing conditions is required.