Effects of Al doping on the magnetic properties of ZnCoO and ZnCoO:H

We investigated the effects of Al doping on ferromagnetism in Co-doped ZnO and the mechanisms that give rise to ferromagnetism in hydrogen-injected ZnCoO. The aim of this study was to determine whether the occurrence of ferromagnetism or the strength of the magnetization is related to the charge carrier mobility, charge carrier density, or the presence of defects in the crystal lattice. Al doping increased the carrier density, as well as the density of oxygen vacancies and the lattice strain; however, these physical properties were not related to the changes in magnetism. Al-doped and undoped ZnCoO showed an increase in ferromagnetism as a function of the hydrogen plasma treatment time. Al doping suppressed the hydrogen-mediated ferromagnetism in ZnCoO:H by trapping hydrogen via oxygen vacancies created by Al doping.