Local structure around Mn in Mn containing ZnO nanocrystals

Among the diluted magnetic semiconductors of current interest, especially ZnO is experiencing a renaissance with the incorporation of Mn because of the recent predictions from theory. We have obtained local structure information from X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) complementing previous electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies on Mn in ZnO nanocrystals and Zn(OH)2. Mn is found to be incorporated substitutionally into the ZnO nanocrystals with a sizeable distortion as compared to the regular ZnO lattice structure. Depending on the preparation of the nanocrystals Mn is found in the ZnO core as well as in a Zn(OH)2 surface shell with a fraction which decreases upon annealing as the shell disintegrates forming additional ZnO. No indications for Mn clusters were found. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)