Structural, optical, XPS and magnetic properties of Zn particles capped by ZnO nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2015-06, Vol.633, p.237-245
• Main Authors: Morozov, Iu.G., Belousova, O.V., Ortega, D., Mafina, M.-K., Kuznetcov, M.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Levitation-jet generator; Nanoparticles (NPs); Optical properties; Room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM); Zinc oxide (ZnO)
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.01.285

[Display omitted] •Levitation-jet aerosol synthesis of Zn particles capped by ZnO nanoparticles (NPs).•TEM, XRD, UV–vis, FT-IR, Raman, XPS and magnetic characterization of the NPs.•Correlation between unit-cell volume of crystal lattice and maximum magnetization. Spherical zinc particles ranging from 42 to 760nm in average size and capped with plate-like zinc oxide particles of 10–30nm in sizes have been prepared by levitation-jet aerosol synthesis through condensation of zinc vapor in an inert/oxidizer gas flow. The nanoparticles have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET measurements, ultra violet visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), and vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM). Magnetic and XRD data indicate that the observed ferromagnetic ordering related to the changes in unit-cell volume of Zn in the Zn/ZnO interface of the nanoparticles. These results are in good correlation with the optical measurements data.