Magnetic, optical and structural property studies of Mn-doped ZnO nanosheets

We report the synthesis of pure and Mn doped ZnO in the form of nanosheets using a simple and single step procedure involving a microwave assisted chemical method. As prepared Mn-doped ZnO nanosheets were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultra violet-visible (UV-Vis), Raman spectroscopy and magnetization measurements. The structural studies using XRD and TEM revealed the absence of Mn-related secondary phases and showed that Mn-doped ZnO comprise a single phase nature with wurtzite structure. FESEM and TEM micrographs show that the average diameter of Mn-ZnO assembled nanosheets is about approximately 50 nm, and the length of a Mn-doped ZnO nanosheet building block which is made up of thin mutilayered sheets is around approximately 300 nm. Concerning the Raman scattering spectra, the shift in peak position of E2 (high) mode toward low frequencies due to the Mn doping could be explained well by means of the spatial correlation model. Magnetic measurements showed that Mn-doped ZnO nanosheets exhibit ferromagnetic ordering at or above room temperature.