Room temperature weak ferromagnetism in Mn doped CuI films

Abstract

The copper(I) iodide (CuI) films and Mn doped CuI films were prepared by Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method in soda glass substrate. The crystal structure and phase purity of the undoped and doped CuI thin films were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction and the crystallite size for the undoped, 5 mol% and 10 mol% doped CuI thin films were found to be 36, 42 and 44 nm respectively. The optical properties of the films were investigated from absorption and emission spectral techniques and the optical bandgap energies were estimated to be 2.90 eV for undoped sample whereas 2.77 and 2.76 eV for the doped samples. The morphology of the undoped and doped films was examined using atomic fluorescence microscopy and the evolution of microstructure with doping was investigated. The magnetic studies performed on the samples reveal the presence of weak ferromagnetism in Mn doped CuI thin films at room temperature suggesting Mn doped CuI as a promising candidate for spintronic applications.