Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of Co doped SnO 2 nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of applied physics 2010-05, Vol.107 (9), p.093918-093918-7
• Main Authors: Sharma, Aditya, Singh, Abhinav Pratap, Thakur, P., Brookes, N. B., Kumar, Shalendra, Lee, Chan Gyu, Choudhary, R. J., Verma, K. D., Kumar, Ravi
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8979; 1089-7550
• DOI: 10.1063/1.3415541

We present a detailed study on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of chemically synthesized Sn 1 − x Co x O 2 ( x = 0.00 to 0.05) nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope measurements were performed to analyze the crystal structure and morphology of Sn 1 − x Co x O 2 nanoparticles. The energy dispersive x-ray analysis measurements were performed to check the possible presence of any impurity elements in the nanocrystals. The near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) experiments at Sn M 5 , 4 -edge and Co L 3 , 2 -edge were performed to probe the local environment of Sn and Co ions in the SnO 2 matrix. The NEXAFS at Co L 3 , 2 -edge, along with multiplet calculations, indicate that the Co is substituted at the Sn site in SnO 2 matrix with + 2 charge state and do not form metallic clusters and other oxide phases. The ferromagnetic nature of these materials was confirmed by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism and room temperature magnetization hysteresis loop measurements.