Magnetic Properties of Ni-doped ZnO Nanocombs by CVD Approach

The search for above room temperature ferromagnetism in dilute magnetic semiconductors has been intense in recent year. Arrays of perpendicular ferromagnetic nanowire/rods have recently attracted considerable interest for their potential use in many areas of advanced nanotechnology. We report a simple low-temperature chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to create self-assembled comb-like Ni-/undoped ZnO nanostructure arrays. The phases, compositions, and physical properties of the studied samples were analyzed by different techniques, including high-resolution X-ray diffraction/photoelectron spectroscopy/transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence, and MPMS. In particular, the Ni-doped ZnO nanocombs (NCs) with ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic properties have been observed whereas undoped ZnO NCs disappear. The corresponding ferromagnetic source mechanism is discussed, in which defects such as O vacancies would play an important role.