Defect-induced ferromagnetic properties of Tb-doped CdO synthesized via Cd Hydroxychloride: Effect of hydrogen post treatment

Cadmium oxide powder doped with Tb ions was synthesised by thermal decomposition of cadmium Hydroxychloride Cd(OH)Cl. The molar content of Tb is 2.6%. The purpose of the present study is to tailoring room-temperature ferromagnetic (RT-FM) properties to CdO in order to use it in the field of dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMS). The samples characterised by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The optical band gap of the prepared powders was determined by diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS). Terbium ions doped in CdO are employed as source of FM properties. The electronic medium of Spin-Spin interaction in host CdO is studied by annealing in hydrogen atmosphere. Magnetic measurements reveal that Tb-doped CdO powder behaves as paramagnet defeating the intrinsic diamagnetic behaviour of CdO. However, after annealing in hydrogen atmosphere, RT-FM properties were created. Thus, it was proved that magnetic properties could be tailored by doping and post treatment under H₂ atmosphere.

Keywords:
Tb-doped CdO; Room-temperature ferromagnetism; Hydrogen treatment