Optical and magnetic properties of Ni-doped ZnO nanocones

Ni-doped ZnO flower-like nanocones with wurzite structures were produced by oxidative evaporation of Zn and Ni powders. The Ni doping did not change the ZnO wurtzite structure. Raman scattering indicated that the normal lattice vibration modes are related to the hexagonal ZnO. Ni clusters and Ni oxides phases did not existed in the sample as characterized by XRD, XPS, and TEM. Upon excitations the nanocones could emit strong green light at 525 rim, which can be directly observed with a digital camera. The magnetic measurement indicated that the Ni-doped ZnO nanocone was high-Curie-temperature magnetic semiconductor.