A Ney et al 2010 New J. Phys. 12 013020 doi:10.1088/1367-2630/12/1/013020
Advanced spectroscopic synchrotron techniques to unravel the intrinsic properties of dilute magnetic oxides: the case of Co:ZnO
A Ney1,8, M Opel2, T C Kaspar3, V Ney1, S Ye1, K Ollefs1, T Kammermeier1, S Bauer2, K-W Nielsen2, S T B Goennenwein2, M H Engelhard3, S Zhou4, K Potzger4, J Simon5, W Mader5, S M Heald6, J C Cezar7, F Wilhelm7, A Rogalev7, R Gross2 and S A Chambers3
Show affiliationsThe use of synchrotron-based spectroscopy has revolutionized the way we look at matter. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) using linear and circular polarized light offers a powerful toolbox of element-specific structural, electronic and magnetic probes that is especially well suited for complex materials containing several elements. We use the specific example of Zn1−xCoxO (Co:ZnO) to demonstrate the usefulness of combining these XAS techniques to unravel its intrinsic properties. We demonstrate that as long as phase separation or excessive defect formation is absent, Co:ZnO is paramagnetic. We can establish quantitative thresholds based on four reliable quality indicators using XAS; samples that show ferromagnet-like behaviour fail to meet these quality indicators, and complementary experimental techniques indeed prove phase separation. Careful analysis of XAS spectra is shown to provide quantitative information on the presence and type of dilute secondary phases in a highly sensitive, non-destructive manner.
- PACS
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78.70.Dm X-ray absorption spectra
75.50.Pp Magnetic semiconductors
75.60.Ej Magnetization curves, hysteresis, Barkhausen and related effects
- Subjects
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Soft matter, liquids and polymers
- Dates
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Issue 1 (January 2010)
Received 13 November 2009
Published 22 January 2010
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Advanced spectroscopic synchrotron techniques to unravel the intrinsic properties of dilute magnetic oxides: the case of Co:ZnO
A Ney et al 2010 New J. Phys. 12 013020
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