Evidence for surface states in pristine and Co-doped ZnO nanostructures: magnetization and nonlinear optical studies

Nanotechnology. 2011 Mar 4;22(9):095703. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/22/9/095703. Epub 2011 Jan 24.

Abstract

An unexpected presence of ferromagnetic (FM) ordering in nanostructured ZnO has been reported previously. Recently, from our detailed magnetization studies and ab initio calculations, we attributed this FM ordering in nanostructured ZnO to the presence of surface states, and a direct correlation between the magnetic properties and crystallinity of ZnO was observed. In this study, through a systematic sample preparation of both pristine and Co-doped ZnO nanostructures, and detailed magnetization and nonlinear optical (NLO) measurements, we confirm that the observed FM ordering is due to the presence of surface states.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cobalt / chemistry*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallization / methods
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Particle Size
  • Refractometry
  • Surface Properties
  • Zinc Oxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Cobalt
  • Zinc Oxide