Effect of (Fe, Co) co-doping on the structural, electrical and magnetic properties of ZnO nanocrystals prepared by solution combustion method

The structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Zn1 - xCo0.05FexO (where, x=0, 1, 2, 3 and 5 mol%) nanoparticles prepared by solution combustion method are reported. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDX) have been used for structural and compositional analysis. The X-ray diffraction pattern showed the existence of hexagonal wurtzite structure of parent ZnO with co-doping. The microstructural studies reveal the dense nanostructured morphology of these samples. The DC electrical conductivity measurements have been carried out in the temperature range of 300-450 K. The DC electrical conductivity decreases with the increasing Fe concentration. The magnetic studies reveal room temperature ferromagnetisation in doped ZnO nanoparticles. The magnetic properties of ZnO nanoparticles improve with increasing Fe dopant concentration. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.