Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, cilt.37, sa.5, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Zn0.95−xCo0.05CexO (x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.05) nanoparticles were obtained using the sol–gel method to investigate the impact of Co/Ce co-doping on magnetic properties. Co/Ce co-doping is systematically employed as a compositional parameter to modulate phase stability and ferromagnetic behavior in ZnO-based diluted magnetic semiconductors. Stoichiometry was corrected by adjusting the doping levels. The structural properties of all Co/Ce co-doped ZnO nanoparticles were examined using X-ray diffraction. The Williamson–Hall method was used to compute the strain and crystallite sizes, and the results were compared to the Debye–Scherrer formula values. Results from Rietveld analysis and X-ray diffraction verified that the intended structure was created and that, up to a Ce concentration of x = 0.02, no secondary phase was detected. This concentration range therefore defines a critical solubility limit for Ce incorporation into the ZnO lattice. In particular, x ≤ 0.02 corresponds to single-phase ZnO, while x ≥ 0.03 involves a two-phase mixture (ZnO + CeO2). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the surface morphology, crystallite size, and nanoparticle morphologies. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) was utilized to determine elemental compositions. Magnetic characterizations of all samples were performed using the quantum design physical property measurements system (PPMS). Magnetization measurements as a function of magnetic field (M–H) were carried out using a magnetic field up to 10 kOe. Magnetization–temperature dependence measurements (M–T) were conducted in the temperature range of 10–300 K. Room-temperature ferromagnetic behavior is observed, accompanied by a systematic decrease in saturation magnetization with increasing Ce content, attributable to lattice distortion and CeO₂ phase formation. This establishes a clear structure–phase–magnetism correlation relevant to the optimization of Co/Ce co-doped ZnO nanoparticles for spintronic applications.