Swift heavy ion induced modifications in structural, optical & magnetic properties of pure and V doped ZnO films

The effect of swift heavy ion irradiation on structural, optical and magnetic properties of pure ZnO, Zn0.95V0.05O and Zn0.90V0.10O films prepared by RF sputtering are studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals no significant change in the ZnO crystal structure except a small change in intensity and peak broadening on irradiation. Raman spectra reveal the degradation of crystalline quality upon ion irradiation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) study shows the formation of smaller sized nanostructures on ion irradiation. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnO films reveal the increase of defects such as oxygen vacancy in the films upon ion irradiation. The irradiated V doped ZnO films exhibit room temperature ferromagnetic behaviour. An increase in oxygen vacancy on ion irradiation together with V ion concentration favours enhanced ferromagnetic behaviour in irradiated V doped ZnO films. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.