Structural, morphological and magnetic analysis of Cd–Co–S dilute magnetic semiconductor nanofilms

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 2014-10, Vol.367, p.1-8
• Main Authors: Kumar, Suresh, Negi, N.S., Katyal, S.C., Sharma, Pankaj, Sharma, Vineet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cadmium; Cadmium sulfides; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Crystallites; Deposition; Dilute magnetic semiconductor; Dilution; Exact sciences and technology; Ferromagnetism; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic properties of monolayers and thin films; Magnetic properties of surface, thin films and multilayers; Magnetic semiconductors; Nanofilm; Nanostructure; Physics; Studies of specific magnetic materials
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2014.04.065

Cd1−xCoxS dilute magnetic semiconductor nanofilms (0≤x≤0.08at%) deposited by chemical bath deposition have been investigated using grazing angle x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The introduction of Co2+ ions in CdS structure induces structural disorders and hence, results in degradation of crystallinity. The crystallite size, interplanar spacing and lattice parameter ratio decrease with increasing Co2+ concentration in CdS. The diamagnetic state of CdS disappears with increase in Co concentration and films with x>0.02 exhibit ferromagnetism. This may be explained in terms of the spin–orbit interactions and Co2+ ion induced the lattice defects and phase separation. •Cd1−xCoxS dilute magnetic semiconductor nanofilms (0≤x≤0.08at%) deposited by CBD.•The diamagnetic state of CdS vanishes for x=0.02.•For x>0.02, dilute magnetic semiconductor nanofilms shows a ferromagnetic state.