Structural and magnetic properties of chemically synthesized dilute magnetic semiconducting (In_(0.9)Fe_(0.1))_2O_3 nanoparticles

摘要

10 at.% Fe doped In_2O_3 dilute magnetic semiconducting (DMS) nanoparticles are synthesized using low temperature 'pyrophoric reaction processes'. X-ray diffraction studies at room temperature have revealed single-phase cubic bixbyite structure of the sample. Nano size grain distribution has been observed by FESEM. The recorded temperature dependent magnetization curve exhibits concave nature in the low temperature range for both FC and ZFC conditions revealing insulating DMS like behavior. No phase transition has been noticed within the studied temperature range. Study of magnetic properties in detail confirms the weak ferromagnetic ordering along with paramagnetic behavior of the nanometric sample. From the temperature dependence of inverse magnetic susceptibility (χ~(-1)(T)] using Curie-Weiss plot, the effective Bohr magneton (μ_(eff)) has been estimated to be ～3.715 μ_B/Fe ion. Observed photoluminescence spectrum of Fe doped In_2O_3 nanostructures mainly results from the recombination of electrons occupying oxygen vacancies or Fe~(3+) ions with photo-excited holes.