Magnetic properties of Mg‐doped AlN zigzag nanowires

Quasi‐aligned hexagonal Mg‐doped aluminum nitride zigzag nanowires (AlN:Mg ZNWs) were fabricated on sapphire substrates using chemical vapor deposition method. A saturated magnetic moment of ∼1 emu/cm3 was found in the AlN:Mg ZNWs when a magnetic field was applied parallel to the sample. The AlN:Mg ZNWs exhibited magnetic anisotropy. The magnetic moment was about 50% larger and the coercivity was about 20% smaller when the field was applied parallel to the sample as compared to the applied field perpendicular to the sample. The Curie temperature of the AlN:Mg ZNWs was above 400 K. The origin of the ferromagnetism in the AlN:Mg ZNWs could be attributed to the formation of Mg–N complex which leads to magnetic coupling as revealed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.