Structure and magnetic properties of Mn-doped ZnO thin films

Authors

Jun Zhang, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Xingzhong Li, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
J. Shi, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Yongfeng Lu, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
David J. Sellmyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

January 2007

Comments

Published in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 19 (2007), 036210 (8 pp) doi:10.1088/0953- 8984/19/3/036210 Online at http://stacks.iop.org/JPhysCM/19/036210 Copyright © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd. Used by permission.

Abstract

We report the structure and magnetic properties of Zn_1-xMn_xO thin films grown on Si(001) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Structure and phase evolution with Mn doping has been studied using x-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, and high-resolution electron microscopy. The undoped and 1% Mn-doped ZnO films are completely (001) oriented, and further Mn doping deteriorates the (001) orientation. For Mn concentrations below 3%, only the hexagonal ZnO phase exists in the films without secondary phases. As the Mn concentration reaches 5%, secondary phase Mn₂O₃ was found aggregating at grain boundaries. All the Mn-doped films show ferromagnetic properties at room temperature, and the magnetic moment decreases as the Mn concentration increases. Our results suggest that the ferromagnetism observed in Zn_1-xMn_xO thin films is intrinsic rather than associated with secondary phases.