Impact of Mn/Co substitution on magnetoelectric and structural properties of ZnO nanostructures thin films

This work investigates the impact of Mn and Co doping on the structural, morphological, electrical, and magnetic properties of ZnO thin films deposited via DC magnetron co-sputtering. Doping concentration, substrate temperature, and substrate type (soda-lime glass and oriented silicon wafer) were sy...

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Main Authors: Ángela P. Lanchero, Lina F. Prieto, Heiddy P. Quiroz, Jorge A. Calderón, A. Dussan, F. Mesa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025007170
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author Ángela P. Lanchero
Lina F. Prieto
Heiddy P. Quiroz
Jorge A. Calderón
A. Dussan
F. Mesa
author_facet Ángela P. Lanchero
Lina F. Prieto
Heiddy P. Quiroz
Jorge A. Calderón
A. Dussan
F. Mesa
author_sort Ángela P. Lanchero
collection DOAJ
description This work investigates the impact of Mn and Co doping on the structural, morphological, electrical, and magnetic properties of ZnO thin films deposited via DC magnetron co-sputtering. Doping concentration, substrate temperature, and substrate type (soda-lime glass and oriented silicon wafer) were systematically varied for potential spintronic applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of a hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure with a preferential [002] growth orientation when Mn was incorporated into the ZnO matrix. Raman analysis also ruled out the presence of secondary Co oxide phases in ZnO:Co samples. Films doped with Mn at 25 W exhibited compressive stress of −0.345 %, which increased to −2.03 % at 50 W, highlighting the dopant's impact on lattice strain. FTIR spectra revealed characteristic bands of ZnO:Co, indicating successful incorporation of Co ions into the matrix. SEM and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) showed granular surface morphology and cluster formation at higher Mn concentrations (50 W). Electrical measurements revealed unipolar and bipolar resistive switching (RS) behaviors, associated with the Schottky barrier model, and strongly influenced by substrate temperature and doping levels. Notably, samples doped with Co at 50 W exhibited enhanced interfacial RS properties. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) demonstrated room-temperature ferromagnetic hysteresis in films synthesized at Ts = 423 K, with Mn (25 W) and Co (50 W) doping. These findings validate the potential of ZnO:Mn/Co as a dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS) for spintronic applications, offering tailored magnetic and resistive properties through precise control of doping and synthesis parameters.
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spelling doaj-art-2336e8c243424edba4b47d5a1ced9f852025-02-02T05:29:05ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-02-01113e42337Impact of Mn/Co substitution on magnetoelectric and structural properties of ZnO nanostructures thin filmsÁngela P. Lanchero0Lina F. Prieto1Heiddy P. Quiroz2Jorge A. Calderón3A. Dussan4F. Mesa5Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá, Dpto. de Física, Grupo de Materiales Nanoestructurados y sus Aplicaciones, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Edificio 404 Yu Takeuchi Lab, 121C/121B-1, Ciudad Universitaria–Bogotá, 110001, ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá, Dpto. de Física, Grupo de Materiales Nanoestructurados y sus Aplicaciones, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Edificio 404 Yu Takeuchi Lab, 121C/121B-1, Ciudad Universitaria–Bogotá, 110001, ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá, Dpto. de Física, Grupo de Materiales Nanoestructurados y sus Aplicaciones, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Edificio 404 Yu Takeuchi Lab, 121C/121B-1, Ciudad Universitaria–Bogotá, 110001, ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá, Dpto. de Física, Grupo de Materiales Nanoestructurados y sus Aplicaciones, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Edificio 404 Yu Takeuchi Lab, 121C/121B-1, Ciudad Universitaria–Bogotá, 110001, Colombia; Grupo de investigación en Bioingeniería, Nanotecnología y Trasferencia de Tecnología, Cluster in Convergent Sciences and Technologies, Universidad Central, ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá, Dpto. de Física, Grupo de Materiales Nanoestructurados y sus Aplicaciones, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Edificio 404 Yu Takeuchi Lab, 121C/121B-1, Ciudad Universitaria–Bogotá, 110001, ColombiaFacultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Básicas, Fundación Universitaria Los Libertadores, Cra.16 # 63a-68, Bogotá, Colombia; Corresponding author.This work investigates the impact of Mn and Co doping on the structural, morphological, electrical, and magnetic properties of ZnO thin films deposited via DC magnetron co-sputtering. Doping concentration, substrate temperature, and substrate type (soda-lime glass and oriented silicon wafer) were systematically varied for potential spintronic applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of a hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure with a preferential [002] growth orientation when Mn was incorporated into the ZnO matrix. Raman analysis also ruled out the presence of secondary Co oxide phases in ZnO:Co samples. Films doped with Mn at 25 W exhibited compressive stress of −0.345 %, which increased to −2.03 % at 50 W, highlighting the dopant's impact on lattice strain. FTIR spectra revealed characteristic bands of ZnO:Co, indicating successful incorporation of Co ions into the matrix. SEM and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) showed granular surface morphology and cluster formation at higher Mn concentrations (50 W). Electrical measurements revealed unipolar and bipolar resistive switching (RS) behaviors, associated with the Schottky barrier model, and strongly influenced by substrate temperature and doping levels. Notably, samples doped with Co at 50 W exhibited enhanced interfacial RS properties. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) demonstrated room-temperature ferromagnetic hysteresis in films synthesized at Ts = 423 K, with Mn (25 W) and Co (50 W) doping. These findings validate the potential of ZnO:Mn/Co as a dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS) for spintronic applications, offering tailored magnetic and resistive properties through precise control of doping and synthesis parameters.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025007170SpintronicsMagnetoelectric effectsSemiconductor deviceThin films
spellingShingle Ángela P. Lanchero
Lina F. Prieto
Heiddy P. Quiroz
Jorge A. Calderón
A. Dussan
F. Mesa
Impact of Mn/Co substitution on magnetoelectric and structural properties of ZnO nanostructures thin films
Heliyon
Spintronics
Magnetoelectric effects
Semiconductor device
Thin films
title Impact of Mn/Co substitution on magnetoelectric and structural properties of ZnO nanostructures thin films
title_full Impact of Mn/Co substitution on magnetoelectric and structural properties of ZnO nanostructures thin films
title_fullStr Impact of Mn/Co substitution on magnetoelectric and structural properties of ZnO nanostructures thin films
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Mn/Co substitution on magnetoelectric and structural properties of ZnO nanostructures thin films
title_short Impact of Mn/Co substitution on magnetoelectric and structural properties of ZnO nanostructures thin films
title_sort impact of mn co substitution on magnetoelectric and structural properties of zno nanostructures thin films
topic Spintronics
Magnetoelectric effects
Semiconductor device
Thin films
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025007170
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