Open AccessThe dual effects of Al-doping on the ferromagnetism of Zn0.98–yEr0.02AlyO thin films
Author(s) -
Hongming Chen,
Xuechao Liu,
Shuangmu Zhuo,
Ze Xiong,
Ruiwu Zhou,
Jianhua Yang,
Er-Wei Shi
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
aip advances
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 58
ISSN - 2158-3226
DOI - 10.1063/1.4819455
Subject(s) - ferromagnetism , doping , thin film , materials science , condensed matter physics , scattering , inductively coupled plasma , magnetization , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , plasma , nanotechnology , magnetic field , optoelectronics , physics , optics , chromatography , quantum mechanics
Zn0.98–yEr0.02AlyO (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.04) thin films have been prepared by inductively coupled plasma enhanced physical vapor deposition method. It is found that Er3+ substitutes Zn2+ in ZnO lattice without forming any magnetic secondary phase. Al-doping has dual effects on the electron transport and magnetic properties of Er-doped ZnO films, wherein AlZn and Ali play different roles. When 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.02, the dominant AlZn increases and induces both carrier concentration and saturation magnetization (Ms) increasing. When 0.02 < y ≤ 0.04, Ali becomes main defect and enhances the probability of electron scattering, thus reduces the Ms