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Title: Synthesis of colloidal Mn2+:ZnO quantum dots and high-TC ferromagnetic nanocrystalline thin films.

Authors: Norberg, Nick S; Kittilstved, Kevin R; Amonette, James E; Kukkadapu, Ravi K; Schwartz, Dana A; Gamelin, Daniel R

Published In J Am Chem Soc, (2004 Aug 4)

Abstract: We report the synthesis of colloidal Mn(2+)-doped ZnO (Mn(2+):ZnO) quantum dots and the preparation of room-temperature ferromagnetic nanocrystalline thin films. Mn(2+):ZnO nanocrystals were prepared by a hydrolysis and condensation reaction in DMSO under atmospheric conditions. Synthesis was monitored by electronic absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. Zn(OAc)(2) was found to strongly inhibit oxidation of Mn(2+) by O(2), allowing the synthesis of Mn(2+):ZnO to be performed aerobically. Mn(2+) ions were removed from the surfaces of as-prepared nanocrystals using dodecylamine to yield high-quality internally doped Mn(2+):ZnO colloids of nearly spherical shape and uniform diameter (6.1 +/- 0.7 nm). Simulations of the highly resolved X- and Q-band nanocrystal EPR spectra, combined with quantitative analysis of magnetic susceptibilities, confirmed that the manganese is substitutionally incorporated into the ZnO nanocrystals as Mn(2+) with very homogeneous speciation, differing from bulk Mn(2+):ZnO only in the magnitude of D-strain. Robust ferromagnetism was observed in spin-coated thin films of the nanocrystals, with 300 K saturation moments as large as 1.35 micro(B)/Mn(2+) and T(C) > 350 K. A distinct ferromagnetic resonance signal was observed in the EPR spectra of the ferromagnetic films. The occurrence of ferromagnetism in Mn(2+):ZnO and its dependence on synthetic variables are discussed in the context of these and previous theoretical and experimental results.

PubMed ID: 15281831 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Colloids/chemistry; Crystallization; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Magnetics*; Manganese/chemistry*; Nanotechnology; Quantum Dots*; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; X-Ray Diffraction; Zinc Oxide/chemistry*

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