Rutile-type Co doped SnO2 diluted magnetic semiconductor nanoparticles: Structural, dielectric and ferromagnetic behavior

Nanoparticles of basic composition Sn1−xCoxO2 (x=0.00, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.1) were synthesized through the citrate-gel method and were characterized for structural properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). XRD analysis of the powder samples sintered at 500°C for 12h showed single phase rutile type tetragonal structure and the crystallite size decreased as the cobalt content was increased. FT-IR spectrum displayed various bands that came due to fundamental overtones and combination of O–H, Sn–O and Sn–O–Sn entities. The effect of Co doping on the electrical and magnetic properties was studied using dielectric spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) at room temperature. The dielectric parameters (ε, tanδ and σac) show their maximum value for 10% Co doping. The dielectric loss shows anomalous behavior with frequency where it exhibits the Debye relaxation. The variation of dielectric properties and ac conductivity with frequency reveals that the dispersion is due to the Maxwell–Wagner type of interfacial polarization in general and hopping of charge between Sn2+ and Sn4+ as well as between Co2+ and Co3+ ions. The complex impedance analysis was used to separate the grain and grain boundary contributions in the system which shows that the conduction process in grown nanoparticles takes place predominantly through grain boundary volume. Hysteresis loops were observed clearly in M–H curves from 0.01 to 0.1% Co doped SnO2 samples. The saturation magnetization of the doped samples increased slightly with increase of Co concentration. However pure SnO2 displayed paramagnetism which vanished at higher values of magnetic field.