Enhancement of ferromagnetism upon thermal annealing in pure ZnO

Abstract

We report here the enhancement of ferromagnetism in pure ZnO upon thermal annealing with the ferromagnetic transition temperature Tc above room temperature. We observe a finite coercive field up to 300K and a finite thermoremanent magnetization up to 340K for the annealed sample. We propose that magnetic moments can be formed at anionic vacancy clusters. Ferromagnetism can occur due to either superexchange between vacancy clusters via isolated F+ centers or through a limited electron delocalization between vacancy clusters. Isolated vacancy clusters or isolated F+ centers give rise to a strong paramagneticlike behavior below 10K.