Synthesis of (Mn, Fe) co-doped Zn3P2 nanoparticles: structural, optical and magnetic properties via solid-state reaction route

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2024-04, Vol.35 (10), p.719, Article 719
• Main Authors: Praveenkumar, Nakka, Madhusudhana Rao, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diffraction patterns; Dopants; Emission analysis; Ferromagnetism; Hysteresis loops; Iron; Lattice parameters; Magnetic moments; Magnetic properties; Manganese; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Near infrared radiation; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Phosphides; Photoluminescence; Scanning electron microscopy; Solid state; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Spintronics; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-024-12512-9

Manganese and iron (Mn–Fe) co-doped with zinc phosphide (Zn (3−(x+y)) Mn x Fe y P 2 , x = 0.02, y = 0.02,0.04,0.06, and 0.08) nanoparticles were synthesised by a solid-state method. Structural, morphological, composition, optical, photoluminescence, and magnetic properties were investigated. The characterization techniques such as XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (Scanning electron microscopy), EDS (Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), UV-Vis–NIR spectroscopy (Ultraviolet–Visible near-infrared region), PL (Photoluminescence), and VSM (Vibrating sample magneto meter) were employed to explore the obtained nanoparticles. The XRD analysis revealed that co-doped samples showed a tetragonal structure and no secondary phase peaks were observed in the diffraction patterns. Lattice parameters increase from a = b = 8.0211 Å, c = 11.4048 Å to a = b = 8.1408 Å, c = 11.4629 Å with increasing dopant concentration. The SEM study revealed that the size of agglomerations slightly increases with increasing dopant concentration. The elemental analysis confirmed that all the Mn-Fe co-doped Zn 3 P 2 nanoparticles are nearly stoichiometric. The diffuse reflectance spectra were used to calculate the optical bandgap of the Mn-Fe codoped Zn 3 P 2 nanoparticles and it increased with increase of dopant concentration (1.412–1.425 eV). PL studies confirmed all emission peaks are in the same wavelength position and slight intensity changes with increasing dopant concentration. The M–H hysteresis loop of the pure and Mn-Fe co-doped Zn 3 P 2 nanoparticles shows weak ferromagnetism changing to strong ferromagnetism with the increase in dopant concentration. Magnetic moment obtained from the present studies suggests that the Mn–Fe co-doped Zn 3 P 2 nanoparticles may be a useful material in semiconductor spintronics.