Nanocrystals of Zn1-xMxO (M Co, Mn) by proteic sol-gel process

Abstract

We present in this work a study on the magnetic properties of nanocrystals of Mn- or Co-doped ZnO obtained by a proteic sol-gel process. Analysis of these nanocrystals is accomplished using x-ray diffraction (XRD), the Rietveld refinement through using the General Structure Analysis System (GSAS) program, and magnetic measurements using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The samples of Zn0.9M0.1O (M Co or Mn) possess single phase crystals with a wurtzite structure (hexagonal) and a P63mc space group. The Zn0.9Co0.1O and Zn0.9Mn0.1O samples presented, at room temperature, the behavior of a soft ferromagnetic with a coercive field (Hc) of 336 Oe and 1240 Oe, respectively, and a remanent magnetization (Mr) of 5 and 2.5 memu/g, respectively. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.