The investigation of the electrical properties of Co-doped ZnO thin films provides two unexpected results: a decrease of the electrical conductivity and the contemporary occurrence of a reduction of conductivity and of an enhancement of ferromagnetic order. The former result is surprising since Zn atoms are replaced with iso-valent Co atoms. The latter finding questions previously suggested beneficial effects of n-type doping on the ZnO:Co magnetic behavior. While morphological and structural characterization permits us to exclude an influence of the morphology and of the presence of Co metal or Co-oxide phases on present experimental findings, with the aid of first-principles electronic structure calculations, we propose a qualitative picture which can explain in a coherent way both the changes in conductivity and ferromagnetic behavior ensuing from the Co doping and the above-mentioned, beneficial effects of n-type doping.
The effect of Co doping on the conductive properties of ferromagnetic ZnxCo1-xO films
Paola Alippi;Guido Scavia;Aldo Amore Bonapasta
2015
Abstract
The investigation of the electrical properties of Co-doped ZnO thin films provides two unexpected results: a decrease of the electrical conductivity and the contemporary occurrence of a reduction of conductivity and of an enhancement of ferromagnetic order. The former result is surprising since Zn atoms are replaced with iso-valent Co atoms. The latter finding questions previously suggested beneficial effects of n-type doping on the ZnO:Co magnetic behavior. While morphological and structural characterization permits us to exclude an influence of the morphology and of the presence of Co metal or Co-oxide phases on present experimental findings, with the aid of first-principles electronic structure calculations, we propose a qualitative picture which can explain in a coherent way both the changes in conductivity and ferromagnetic behavior ensuing from the Co doping and the above-mentioned, beneficial effects of n-type doping.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
prod_334791-doc_104477.pdf
solo utenti autorizzati
Descrizione: Articolo pubblicato
Tipologia:
Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Dimensione
2.48 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
2.48 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri Richiedi una copia |
prod_334791-doc_187368.pdf
accesso aperto
Descrizione: Postprint
Tipologia:
Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Dimensione
951.15 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
951.15 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.