The structure, photoluminescence, optical and magnetic properties of ZnO films doped with ferromagnetic impurities

Abstract

In this paper we report on ZnO–CoO thin films grown by sol–gel technology with using different solvent. As precursors zinc acetate dehydrate (Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O), cobalt acetate tetrahydrate (Co(CH3COO)2·4H2O) as well as manganese chloride (MnCl2) were used. The films grown from solvent with methanol have a highly preferred orientation along the (1 0 0) plane. The films deposited from C=0.5 and 0.7 mol/l solvent with isopropanol and monoethanolamin and in smaller degree the C=0.3 mol/l film consist of disordered crystallites whereas the C=0.1 mol/l film has the intensive (0 0 2) peak, revealing a more obvious [0 0 2] preferred orientation. The all obtained films are highly transparent. The PL of ZnO–CoO films are more intensive in ultra-violet region in comparison the PL of ZnO film. The ESR spectra of ZnO–CoO multilayer films were investigated.