Magnetic properties of Zn0.9(Mn0.05,Ni0.05)O nanoparticle: Experimental and theoretical investigation

The crystalline and magnetic properties of 5% Mn and 5% Ni co-doped nanocrystalline ZnO particles, obtained by the co-precipitation method, are performed. X-ray diffraction data revealed that Zn0.90Mn0.05Ni0.05O crystallizes in the monophasic wurtzite structure. DC magnetization measurement showed that the samples are paramagnetic at room temperature. However, a large increase in the magnetization is observed below 50K. This behavior, along with the negative value of Weiss constant obtained from the linear fit of magnetic susceptibility data below room temperature, indicates ferrimagnetic behavior. The ferrimagnetic properties observed at low temperature are explained and confirmed from ab-initio calculations using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method combined with the coherent potential approximation. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.