Controllable synthesis and magnetic investigation of ZnO: Co nanowires and nanotubes

Abstract: Zn1−x Co x O (x=0−0.12) nanowires have been synthesized by the electrophoretic deposition method using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as a template. Careful structural characterization indicates that the prepared nanowires are of poly-crystal wurtzite structure and composed with 10–20nm nano-crystals. Magnetic investigation indicates the obtained nanowires are of room-temperature ferromagnetic. The magnetism increases with the increasing of Co-doping within the solubility limit 7%, but decreases sharply when x>7% for the presence of second-phase Co3O4. Tubular structural Zn1−x Co x O can also be fabricated by properly tuning the electrophoretic deposition potential and time. The mechanism of electrophoretic deposition is discussed in detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]