Room temperature ferromagnetism in single-phase Zn1−x Mn x S diluted magnetic semiconductors fabricated by co-precipitation technique

Abstract

In this study, we have prepared Mn-doped zinc sulfide diluted magnetic semiconductors with varying manganese concentrations (x Mn = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10 mol%) using co-precipitation method. The single-phase nano-crystalline Zn1− x Mn x S powders have been confirmed with X-ray diffraction. The residual strains also have been calculated, and have been observed to affect the lattice constants. The surface morphology is investigated with scanning electron microscopy, which illustrates the presence of smaller grains, which coalescence to form larger grains. The presence of the ferromagnetism at room temperature has been observed; however, significant paramagnetic contribution is also present. The observed weak ferromagnetism might be due to the structural and surface imperfections. The single-phase Zn1− x Mn x S exhibiting magnetism at room temperature evidences the potential spintronic applications.