SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF Mn SUBSTITUTED ZnO NANOPARTICLES

The aim of the work is to synthesize Mn substituted ZnO nanoparticles by co-precipitation method with chemical formula Zn1-xMnxO, where x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 and to characterize its structural, morphological and magnetic properties. X-ray diffraction studies confirm the presence of wurtzite (hexagonal) crystal structure for doped samples similar to un doped ZnO, indicating that doped Mn replacing Zn. Lattice parameters and unit cell volume were found to increase with increasing Mn concentration, indicating the homogeneous substitution of Mn2+ for Zn2+. TEM analysis shows the average diameter of the nanoparticles in the range of 20-50nm. Room temperature magnetic measurements indicate the existence of ferromagnetism in x = 0.00 and 0.05 nanoparticles and co-existence of ferro, para magnetism in x = 0.10 and 0.15 nanoparticles.