Abstract:

The dry gel precursors were synthesized from Zn nitrate and Fe nitrate with a citric acid solution by means of  sol\|gel method. We obtained a series of Zn_1-xFe_xO after the precursors were sintered in air and in argon. The structure and magnetic properties of Zn_1-xFe_xO were characterized by  virtue of X\|ray diffractometer (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X\|ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and vibration sample magnetometer （VSM）. The results show  that the doping concentration of Fe in ZnO sintered in  air is less than 4％, while sintering in argon,  the doping concentration of Fe in ZnO is  close to 10％. The magnetic performance of sample with the same doping concentration prepared in two gas atmospheres was different. XPS analysis shows  that Fe existed in different valences in samples  prepared in different sintering atmospheres so as to affect the structure and magnetic performance of samples.

Key words: diluted magnetic semiconductors, Fe doped ZnO, sol-gel method