Structural and magnetic properties of Ce1-xCoxO2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) nanocrystalline powders

In this work, we report detailed investigations on the structural and magnetic properties of pure and Co-doped CeO2 nanoparticles. All the samples, with different cobalt concentrations, were prepared by the co-precipitation method. To investigate the structural properties and phases present in the samples, systematic, x-ray diffraction measurements were performed in the theta-2 theta mode. Phonon modes, from the pure and Co-doped samples, were studied by Raman scattering measurements. Surface morphology of individual nanoparticles was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy. Interestingly, room temperature ferromagnetism is observed in, both, un-doped and Co-doped samples. The mechanisms of variation in the Raman active mode (F-2g) and magnetization, by increasing the cobalt concentration, are briefly discussed.