Properties of Co-doped ZnO films prepared by electrochemical deposition

We prepared Co-doped ZnO films by the electrochemical deposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscope (AFM), x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), optical absorption, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements were carried out on the samples. The results showed Co atoms substituted Zn atoms in the ZnO lattice without the formation of the impurity phase. VSM measurements showed the ferromagnetic properties for the Co-doped ZnO samples. When the Co doping concentration increased, the band gaps were widened and the PL peak positions shifted towards the short wavelength direction. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)