Fe-doped ZnO magnetic semiconductor by mechanical alloying

Zn1-xFexO (x=0.0306, 0.0509, 0.0708, 0.0989) compounds were fabricated by mechanical alloying. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed that zinc oxide (ZnO) of single phase with wurzite structure were obtained below x = 0.0708. The samples were examined for the magnetic property using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), indicating ferromagnetic behavior with the Curie temperature higher than room temperature. Fe-57 Mossbauer spectra was conducted to further determine the magnetic behavior, and revealed that Fe atoms dissolve in the ZnO lattice in Fe2+ and Fe3+ state. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.