Paramagnetic behavior of Zn1−xMnxO at room temperature

Mn‐doped ZnO were synthesized by solid state reaction and sol‐gel method respectively. It was found that samples synthesized by solid state reaction containing Mn2O3 and MnO2 are a mixture of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. Contrary, samples without second phases were found to be paramagnetic at room temperature. According to previous report, interface effects between Zn‐rich Mn2O3 and MnO2 interfaces may be the origin of the ferromagnetic behavior observed in our samples prepared by solid reaction, so the alloy of Zn1−xMnxO may be paramagnetic at room temperature. Prepared by sol‐gel technique, the samples without second phases in the XRD patterns are also room‐temperature paramagnetic. Therefore we believe that the magnetism of Zn1−xMnxO is paramagnetic at room temperature. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)