Caracterização estrutural e magnética de semicondutores magnéticos diluídos nanoestruturados a base de ZnO dopado com Co

Abstract

The interest in Zinc Oxide (ZnO) doped with transition metal has been attracted much attention in the last years. These systems present Curie temperature above room temperature, this property enable its application in spintronic devices. In spite of the extensive studies, the origin of its magnetic properties still remains a controversial issue. Some recent theoretical and experimental results have shown that the ferromagnetic ordering depends on defects, such as oxygen vacancies or interstitial zinc, created during the sample preparation. In this context, this dissertation describes the structural and magnetic characterization of nanostructured diluted magnetic oxides (DMOs) based on Co-doped ZnO systems produced by microwave-assisted hydrothermal route. We have prepared nanostructured samples with Co molar concentrations of 0.5, 1, 3, 5 and 7%. The crystal structures of the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and RAMAN scattering spectroscopy. The microstructure and composition distributions were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Co K-edge x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) were used to determine the valence state and to evaluate the environment of Co in the ZnO lattice. Finally, magnetic characterizations were performed using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The results confirmed the Zn replacement by Co ions in the wurtzite ZnO structure with oxidation state of 2+, neither segregated secondary phases, nor Co-metal were detected. The magnetic characterization of the studied samples revelas a paramagnetic behavior with large antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between Co2+ ions. Besides, the samples with low concentration of Co () present the coexistence of a major paramagnetic phase associated to a minority ferromagnetic phase. The magnetic behavior of our samples are studied under the scope of the BMP (Bound Magnetic Polaron) and d0 theoretical models. The studied of the magnetic parameters through a model corresponding to a random distribution of the dopants and a simple exchange interaction between the Co2+ ions reveals a non-homogeneous distribution over the volume of the grains.