Local Structural Studies Through EXAFS and Effect of Fe2+or Fe3+ Existence in ZnO Nanoparticles

A simple solution-based chemical precipitation method was used to synthesize the Fe-doped ZnO nanoparticles. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) measurement showed that mostly Fe2- ions are incorporated in a lower percentage of Fe doping, while a higher percentage leads to Fe3+. The broad absorption band in the visible range shows the d-d crystal field transitions between the multiplets of 3d(5) configuration of the high spin Fe3+ substituting Zn2+ under the influence of a tetrahedral ZnO crystal field. Raman measurement also supports the optical absorption data. ESR results show that the occurrence of broad signals is due to the exchange interactions among the TM ions in the doped samples. Fe exists in a mixed phase in Fe1 and the wide curve in Fe10 is due to the exchange interaction among Fe3+-Fe3+. EXAFS measurements confirm that the spectral features showing the peak edge position is similar to Fe2O3 corresponding to the Fe3+ state. From this, it can be inferred that Fe exists mostly in a +3 oxidation state in all the samples, but there may be existence of +2 states in the surface layers as observed from XPS measurement. Fel shows RTFM with a coercivity of similar to 70 Oe. The non-saturating, linear magnetic moment at higher applied magnetic field is due to the paramagnetic contribution from the uncoupled Fe3+ ions.