Cobalt concentration effect on the Structural, Magnetic and Optical properties of Zn1-xCoxSe Nanoparticles

Abstract

Cobalt doped Zinc selenide (Zn1-xCoxSe where x = 0.00,0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15) nanoparticles are synthesized using co-precipitation method. For studying structural properties of prepared samples, nanoparticles are characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction),SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) with EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffractometer), HRTEM (High resolution transmission electron microscope),Elemental composition confirmed by EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffractometer), Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy test and XPS (X-ray photoelectron microscope). XRD study confirms that prepared samples are crystalline in nature and size is appeared in nanometer range with cubic structure. Optical investigation is done by UV–visible spectra and PL spectra at room temperature which indicates change in energy band gap as doping of cobalt increases in host material due to quantum confinement which shows the altered optical properties due to doping of transition metal in host material. FTIR (Fourier transform infra-red) spectroscopy reports presence of different functional groups in nanoparticles and thermal stability is confirmed by TG/DTA(Thermogravimetric) analysis. Magnetic analysis by using ESR (electron spin resonance) and VSM (Vibrating Sample Magnetometer) confirms presence of ferromagnetic coupling in cobalt doped zinc selenide nanoparticles which make these nanoparticles suitable for using in different devices e.g. in magnetic storage devices, magnetic imaging, magneto-optics and sensors etc. Combined semiconducting and magnetic nature of these Co doped ZnSe nanoparticles make them useful in spintronics, magnetic storage devices etc applications.