Grain growth kinetics and magnetic properties of a V-doped ZnO dilute magnetic oxide

Abstract

Zn0.95V0.05O ceramics, elaborated from milled ZnO and V2O5 nanopowders, were sintered at 900, 1000 and 1100 °C for 1, 2, 4, 6, 10 and 14 h. The growth kinetics was studied identifying the grain growth exponent, the activation energy and the pre-exponential factor. The high V2O5 concentration allowed a rapid grain growth at 900 °C only at the very first stages (t < 1 h). Meanwhile, at temperatures of 1000 and 1100 °C, the grain growth was extremely fast with a growth exponent of 0.72. The magnetic properties of the samples indicate that ferromagnetism exist in all samples in different magnitudes depending on the sintering conditions. In particular, the maximum magnetization was obtained on the sample sintered at 1100 °C for 14 h, despite the reduction of V concentration. Additionally, secondary paramagnetic phases were detected in the samples sintered at lower temperatures and shorter sintering times.