Enhancement of Co substitution induced by Eu codoping in ZnO-based diluted magnetic semiconducting thin films

To avoid the occurrence of doped magnetic ion clustering is a challenge in fabrication of diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). In this work, we report the intrinsic ferromagnetic behavior in Co-doped ZnO DMSs induced by Eu codoping. Both structural parameters and magnetic properties demonstrate the existence of an interaction between Co and Eu ions. The observation of multiplet structures for the localized Co 3d states in x-ray absorption and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism characterization evidences that the codoped Eu plays an important role in facilitating the Co substitution of Zn, leading to intrinsic ferromagnetism.