Chemical states and ferromagnetism in heavily Mn-substituted zinc oxide thin films

TitleChemical states and ferromagnetism in heavily Mn-substituted zinc oxide thin films
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsShao, Q, Ku, PS, Wang, XL, Zapien, JA, Leung, CW, Borgatti, F, Gambardella, A, Dediu, V, Ciprian, R, Ruotolo, A
JournalJournal of applied physics
Volume115
Pagination153902-1–153902-5
ISSN0021-8979
KeywordsDEPOSITION, DOPED ZNO, LUMINESCENCE, MAGNETIC SEMICONDUCTORS, SPECTRA, SPECTROSCOPY
Abstract

A concentration of Manganese as high as 8% was successfully diluted into Zinc Oxide epitaxial films deposited by pulsed laser deposition. The films showed strong ferromagnetism with a large coercivity. Low temperature X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements indicated that all the Manganese ions substitute for Zinc sites of the wurtzite lattice in the valency of +2. Photoluminescence measurements excluded the presence of Zinc vacancies, as well as Zn interstitials. All the magnetic moments measured were to ascribe to the formation of bound magnetic polarons, with no other contribution due to Manganese-secondary phases or Zinc vacancy-mediated double exchange interaction. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

DOI10.1063/1.4871759