Ferromagnetic properties of Fe-substituted ZnO-based magnetic semiconductor

Abstract The diluted magnetic semiconductor Zn 1− x 57 Fe x O ( x =0.01, 0.02, 0.03) compounds were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure of Zn 0.97 57 Fe 0.03 O at room temperature is determined to be a hexagonal structure of P6 3 mc with lattice constants a 0 =3.252 A and c 0 =5.205 A by Rietveld refinement. The Bragg factors R B and R F were determined as 3.23% and 2.81%. From the inverse susceptibility versus T curve, the paramagnetic Curie temperature is found to be 2.7 K and effective moment is found to be 4.01 μ B , thereby suggesting that the exchange interactions between Fe ions are ferromagnetic. Mossbauer spectra of Zn 0.97 57 Fe 0.03 O have been taken at various temperatures ranging from 4.2 to 295 K. Mossbauer spectrum for Zn 0.97 57 Fe 0.03 O at 4.2 K has shown ferromagnetic phase (sextet), and the spectra were fitted based on a random distribution model of Fe ions.