Gd doping effect on structural, electrical and magnetic properties of ZnO thin films synthesized by sol-gel spin coating technique

Nanocrystalline Gd-doped ZnO thin films were deposited on sapphire (0001) substrates using sol-gel spin coating technique. The structural and optical properties of deposited thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro Raman spectroscopy. Structural and optical studies show that the doped Gd ions occupy Zn sites retaining the wurtzite symmetry. Photoluminescence (PL) studies reveal the presence of oxygen vacancies in Gd doped ZnO thin films. The resistivity of Gd doped ZnO thin film decreases with increase in Gd doping upto 4%. Gd-doped ZnO films demonstrate weak magnetic ordering at room temperature.