Synthesis, optical, and magnetic properties of diluted magnetic semiconductor Zn1−xMnxO nanowires via vapor phase growth

Diluted magnetic semiconductor Zn1−xMnxO nanowires were synthesized via an in situ doping of manganese in ZnO nanowires using vapor phase growth at 500 °C. The maximum content of the manganese in the ZnO is around 13 at. %, approaching the maximum thermal equilibrium limit of Mn solubility in ZnO at the growth temperature. Structure and composition analysis revealed that the manganese was doped into the lattice structure, forming solid solution instead of precipitation. Magnetic property measurements revealed that the as-doped Zn1−xMnxO nanowires exhibit ferromagnetic behavior with Curie temperature around 37 K.