Structural, optical and intrinsic defects induced magnetic properties of the ZnO:Fe nanoparticles

In this present work, the Fe ions doping effect on the structural, vibrational, optical and magnetic behavior of ZnO nanoparticles are reported. The Zn_1−xFe_xO (with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) samples were prepared by co-precipitation method. The presence of single crystalline phase identified as the Wurtizite structure was determined by X-ray diffraction measurement in all the samples. Additionally, a small peak shift and suppression of peak intensity have been found on Fe doping increases in ZnO matrix. The Zn_1−xFe_xO samples are further characterized by Raman spectra, photoluminescence, UV–DRS, FTIR, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic measurements. The structural change and presence of intrinsic defects were confirmed by Raman spectra and PL analysis. Also, the optical properties arise from by the incorporation of the dopant ions and their effect on the bandgap subsequently. The magnetic properties of the prepared samples are measured using VSM. The observed room temperature ferromagnetism and the nonmonotonic variation in the magnetic properties are discussed based on the presence of intrinsic defects and grain boundary network.