Enhanced ferromagnetic properties of diluted Fe doped ZnO with hydrogen treatment

The single-phase diluted magnetic Fe-ion (5%) doped ZnO powders were prepared by solid-state reaction method. The powders were annealed in Ar or Ar/H-2(5%) atmosphere at 1200 degrees C. The crystal structure, electric and magnetic properties for the Zn0.95Fe0.05O powders have been studied with X-ray diffraction (XRD) vibrating sample magnetometer, resistance and Hall measurement. All the peaks for the XRD pattern of samples belong to the hexagonal (P6(3)mc) lattice of ZnO, and no indication of a secondary phase. The lattice parameters for the Zn0.95Fe0.05O with an annealing in Ar/H-2(5%) atmosphere were a(0) = 3.256 angstrom and c(0) = 5.206 angstrom at room temperature. The hysteresis curve for the Zn0.95Fe0.05O at room temperature was enhanced ferromagnetic behaviour with an annealing in Ar/H-2(5%) atmosphere. We give an explanation for enhanced ferromagnetic behaviour with H-2 treatment by electric properties. (C) 2006 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.