Magnetic, Structural, and Optical Properties of Low Temperature ZnMnO Grown by Atomic Layer Epitaxy

Abstract

Magnetic, structural, and optical properties of ZnMnO films grown with atomic layer epitaxy are discussed. Atomic layer epitaxy films were grown at low temperature using organic zinc and manganese precursors. From magnetometry and electron spin resonance investigations we conclude that lowering of a growth temperature significantly limits formation of Mn precipitates and inclusions of different foreign phases of manganese oxides to ZnMnO host.

ZnO, ZnMnO and ZnCoO films grown by atomic layer deposition

“…Then, a post growth annealing was necessary to get a uniform Mn distribution. Moreover, for these films (when grown with Mn(thd) 3 ) we still detected an unidentified high temperature FM response [14]. We then increased the purging time up to 4 s (from 1 s).…”

“…We then increased the purging time up to 4 s (from 1 s). A weak high-temperature FM phase was still detected in the films grown with Mn(thd) 3 at these conditions [14], but the FM response was much weaker. Origin of this effect is not clear.…”

“…A weak FM response was detected, due to a foreign phase inclusions with a critical temperature T C of about 45 K, as the one reported for Mn 3 O 4 . From the SQUID investigations we estimate that one Mn ion per 10 4 is present in the inclusions of Mn 3 O 4 [14].…”

“…), but also for many other GaN-and ZnO-based diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). However, the RT FM response reported for ZnMnO [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] or ZnCoO [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] is most likely due to inclusions of foreign phases of various TM oxides, defects or due to TM accumulations, and not due to 'volume' properties of the alloys studied. Not surprisingly, the information on sample uniformity is crucial.…”

Growth and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles

“…Our interest in the present type of ZnO nanoparticles stems from our recent demonstration of encouraging optical (ZnO) and magnetic (ZnMnO) properties of ZnO and ZnMnO films grown at low temperature (LT) conditions [9,10]. These studies indicated possibility of producing efficient short wavelength light emitting phosphors by simple LT growth processes.…”