Co-DOPED ZnO NANOWIRES GROWN BY VAPOR–LIQUID–SOLID METHOD: STRUCTURAL, OPTICAL AND MAGNETIC STUDIES

We report on the growth of Co-doped ZnO nanowires (NWs) on Si substrate using a self-catalytic vapor deposition method from a Co-doped ZnO nanopowder source and study its structural, optical and magnetic properties for the as-grown and rapid thermal annealed samples. Co (5%)-doped ZnO (ZnCoO) nanoparticles (NPs) are used as source material for the growth process. Electron microscopy imaging clearly reveals the formation of long ZnO NWs with uniform diameter. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the single crystalline hexagonal structure of Co-doped ZnO NWs without impurities of metallic cobalt or other phases. Micro-Raman studies of doped samples show doping/disorder induced additional modes as compared to the undoped ZnO. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra of the doped ZnO NWs show strong emission band at ~380 nm and no significant emission was observed in the visible region indicating low defect content in the NWs. The field dependent magnetization (M–H curve) measured at room temperature exhibit...