Room temperature ferromagnetism in bulk Mn-Doped Cu2O

Abstract

Bulk Mn-doped Cu2O samples were produced by reacting Cu2O and Mn2O3 powders in Ar gas at 650 and 800°C to give a nominal composition of 1.7at.% Mn-doped Cu2O. From x-ray energy dispersive spectrum analysis, the actual doping level was lower at 0.3–0.5at.% Mn. Room temperature ferromagnetism with a coercive field of 50Oe was found in the 650°C samples. The Curie temperature (TC) of samples sintered at 650°C was above 300K, whereas for 800°C samples it was 215±5K. Using the nominal doping level, the magnetization saturation value was calculated to be ∼0.4μB∕Mn at 10K.