Investigation on Fe-doped ZnO nanostructures prepared by a chemical route

Zn1−xFexO (x = 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07) nanoparticles synthesized by a chemical route were characterized by different techniques. The structural characterization by XRD and TEM confirmed the phase purity of the samples and indicated a reduction in particle size with increase in the dopant (Fe) concentration in ZnO. The optical characterization of the nanoparticles by FTIR, PL and UV–visible spectroscopy confirmed the formation of wurtzite structure and incorporation of Fe in the ZnO lattice. Magnetization measurements by VSM and Faraday balance techniques indicate presence of room temperature ferromagnetism in the Fe-doped ZnO samples. Local environment around the Fe atoms has been probed by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and the measured isomer shifts confirmed the charge state of iron as Fe3+. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) measurements confirm the presence of cation vacancies in the nanoparticles and indicate a reduction of overall defect concentration with incorporation of Fe atoms in the ZnO structure.