Study of defect-induced ferromagnetism in hydrogenated anatase TiO2:Co

Electronic and magnetic properties of Co-doped TiO2 polycrystalline pellets (Ti0.95Co0.05O2) have been investigated using x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoemission, magnetization, and resistance measurements. The as-synthesized and hydrogenated specimens crystallize in the anatase type tetragonal structure containing very small (∼4.4%) rutile phase. The dopant ions of Co are found to be divalent and well incorporated into TiO2 lattice, substituting the Ti site within the anatase phase, with no evidence of metallic Co or any other oxides of Co. The Co doping induces a weak ferromagnetic ordering in the diamagnetic TiO2 host matrix. Interestingly, when the Co-doped TiO2 is annealed in hydrogen atmosphere, it shows a giant enhancement in magnetization. However, an extended reheating in air causes this H-induced magnetization to vanish and the sample regains the as-prepared status. Our findings indicate that ferromagnetism originates from the doped matrix rather than any magnetic clusters and strongly correlated with oxygen vacancies in the doped TiO2. The induced ferromagnetic ordering is found to be a reversible process with regard to oxygen vacancy defects that could be induced or removed, respectively, upon introduction or removal of these defects. At the request of the authors and editor, this article is being retracted effective 15 August 2014.