Effect of Ni Doping on the Structure and Magnetic Property in Chemically Synthesized (In1-x Nix)2 O3 (x=0.03, 0.05, and 0.07) Nanocrystals

In order to experimentally check the Ni doped In2O3 as a potential spintronic material and to search for high temperature ferromagnetic material, a series of (In1-xNix)2O3 (x=0.03, 0.05, and 0.07) nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel method. Lattice parameter measurement shows distinct shrinkage of the lattice constant indicating the actual incorporation of Ni ions into the In2O3 lattice. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data show that all the samples exhibit single-phase polycrystalline behavior. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses show that the particle size of the calcined powder is in the range of 10-14nm and 8-9nm, respectively. SEM energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (EDS) mapping shows the presence of Ni ions in the Ni doped In2O3 sample. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) micrographs show lattice fringes of 0.290 and 0.322nm corresponding to the crystallographic plane (222) and (310) of cubic In2O3. Magnetization study indicated that the Ni doped In2O3 samples exhibit diamagnetic behavior.