Abstract

Transparent Al-doped NiZnO thin films have been fabricated by sol–gel dip coating and investigated using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction analysis, ultraviolet–visible–near infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectrophotometry, vibrating-sample magnetometry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The Al-doped NiZnO films consisted of ZnO hexagonal and α-Al2O3 rhombohedral phases as the Al incorporation was gradually increased from 1 at.% up to 3 at.%. A decrease in the optical bandgap from 3.90 eV to 3.09 eV was observed for films grown with Al content of 1 at.% to 2.5 at.%, but at 3 at.% Al, the bandgap increased to 3.87 eV. Optical transmittance of 96% was achieved for these transparent oxide films. Study of their magnetic properties revealed that increasing Al percentage resulted in enhanced ferromagnetism. The saturated magnetization increased with increasing Al percentage. The ferromagnetic properties of Al-doped NiZnO are mediated by electrons. The surface of the deposited thin films consisted of nanowires, nanorods, porous surface, and grains.

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