Correlation between magnetic and micro-structural properties of low energy ion irradiated and un-irradiated Zn0.95Mn0.05O films

To establish intrinsic ferromagnetism (FM) and to detect its micro-structural origin (if any), sol-gel derived Zn0.95Mn0.05O films have been undergone low energy (800 keV) Ar4+ ion irradiation. The structural, optical, magnetic and micro-structural properties of irradiated and un-irradiated films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, field and temperature dependent magnetization measurements, X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. All the films exhibit single-phase wurtzite structure and intrinsic FM. The band gap and band tail parameters show systematic variation with fluence of irradiation. PL spectra exhibit a green emission peak (oxygen vacancy) and that has been suppressed significantly for the film with low fluence (5 x 10(14) ions per cm(2)) of irradiation. The film irradiated with low fluence exhibits an absence of antiferromagnetic (AFM) interaction and the strongest FM. The studies of XANES and EXAFS indicate a difference in oxidation state and local environment for Mn in comparison to Zn in the host ZnO matrix. The film that exhibits strong FM also shows a comparatively higher number of tetrahedral coordinated Mn ions. The magnetic properties have been correlated with optical and microstructural properties and low fluence of ion irradiation has been supposed to be optimized.