Effect of zinc doping on the structural and magnetic properties of nickel ferrite thin films fabricated by pulsed laser deposition technique

Abstract Zinc, as known as non-magnetic element, has been doped into nickel ferrite under thin film form to modify its structural and magnetic properties. Laser ablated Ni 1− x Zn x Fe 2 O 4 (0.0≤ x ≤0.5) thin films grown on R-cut Al 2 O 3 (0001) substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique are single phase with (l l l) orientation, and they are strongly room temperature ferromagnetic. Compared to other Ni–Zn ferrite thin films we observed the enhancement in coercivity H c . Higher H c thin films can be used as potential candidates for modern miniaturization of electronic devices.