Structural and magnetic properties of Zn1−xMnxO nanocrystalline powders and thin films

• Published in: Thin solid films 2012-12, Vol.525, p.13-19
• Main Authors: Mera, J., Córdoba, C., Doria, J., Gómez, A., Paucar, C., Fuchs, D., Morán, O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Doping; Epitaxy; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic properties of monolayers and thin films; Magnetic properties of nanostructures; Magnetic properties of surface, thin films and multilayers; Magnetic semiconductors; Manganese; Nanocrystals; Nanostructure; Pechini's method; Physics; Pulse laser deposition; Studies of specific magnetic materials; Thin films; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2012.10.053

The structural and magnetic properties of Zn1−xMnxO (x=0, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1) nanocrystalline powders and thin epitaxial films were studied in detail. Epitaxial films were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition on c-Al2O3 substrates. To this end, ablation targets were prepared by pressing nano-sized powders of Zn1−xMnxO (x=0, 0.02, 0.1) synthesized by the wet polymeric precursor method. The method was chosen in order to improve purity and homogeneity of the grain-size distribution. The epitaxial growth was optimized with respect to crystalline quality by varying deposition parameters such as substrate temperature, laser fluence and background gas conditions. Films prepared under optimized conditions show a mosaic spread