Structural and Magnetic Properties of Zn1-xCoxO Nanorods Prepared by Microwave Irradiation Technique

We have successfully synthesized large-scale aggregative flowerlike Zn1-xCoxO (0.0 <= x <= 0.07) nanostructures, consisting of many branches of nanorods at different orientations with diameter within 100-150 nm (tip diameter similar to 50 nm) and length of 1 mu m. The rods were prepared using Zinc nitrate, cobalt nitrate and KOH in 180 Watt microwave radiation for short time interval. The synthesized nanorods were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM) and DC magnetization measurements. XRD and TEM results indicate that the novel flowerlike nanostructures are hexagonal with wurtzite structure and Co ions were successfully incorporated into the lattice position of Zn ions in ZnO matrix. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern reveals that the nanorods are single crystal in nature and preferentially grow along [0 0 1] direction. Magnetic studies show that Zn1-xCoxO nanorods exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism. This novel nano-structure could be a promising candidate for a variety of future spintronic applications.