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Updated: May 8, 2026

Sputter Growth and Characterization of Metamagnetic B2-ordered FeRh Epilayers
Published on: October 5, 2013
Paramagnetism and antiferromagnetic interactions in single-phase Fe-implanted ZnO.
L M C Pereira1, U Wahl, J G Correia
1Instituut voor Kern- en Stralingsfysica, KU Leuven, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium. IFIMUP and IN-Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal. Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal.
Iron-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) shows localized paramagnetic moments from isolated iron (Fe) impurities. Increasing Fe concentration leads to antiferromagnetic interactions between neighboring Fe atoms.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Semiconductor Physics
Background:
- Dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMS) exhibit high-temperature ferromagnetism, but its origin is debated.
- Understanding the phase diagram of DMS is crucial for their application.
- Fe-doped ZnO is a promising DMS material.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the magnetic and structural properties of Fe-doped ZnO.
- Clarify the role of Fe impurities and defects in magnetic behavior.
- Determine the phase diagram of Fe-doped ZnO.
Main Methods:
- Ion implantation of Fe into ZnO single crystals.
- Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction and other techniques.
- Magnetometry measurements at low temperatures (down to 2 K).
Main Results:
- Fe impurities substitute for Zn in a wurtzite Zn(1-x)Fe(x)O phase.
- Thermal annealing reduces defects and improves crystallinity.
- Isolated Fe impurities exhibit paramagnetic behavior.
- Antiferromagnetic interactions occur between nearest-neighbor Fe atoms at higher concentrations.
Conclusions:
- The study provides insights into the magnetic properties of Fe-doped ZnO.
- Defect density and Fe concentration influence magnetic interactions.
- Zn-substitutional Fe sites are key to understanding magnetism in this DMS.
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