Magnetic and Raman scattering studies of Co-doped ZnO thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract

Phase pure Zn1−xCoxO thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition have transmittance greater than 75 % in the visible region. Raman studies confirm the crystalline nature of Zn1−xCoxO thin films. Zn0.95Co0.05O thin films show room temperature ferromagnetism with saturation magnetization of 0.4μB/Co atom. The possible origin of paramagnetism at higher Co doping concentrations can be attributed to the increased nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions between Co2+ ions in ZnO matrix. XPS confirms the substitution of Co2+ ions into the ZnO host lattice.