Phase stabilization and characterization of nanocrystalline Fe-doped Cu2O

Oxide-based ferromagnetic semiconductors are currently being explored for spin-based electronics (Spintronics) applications. Specimens of 1 and 2% Fe-doped Cu2O were prepared by varying the parameters of chemical co-precipitation technique. XRD analysis confirmed the cubic structure of Cu2O. Single-phase structure was obtained for the 1% Fe-doped Cu2O, whereas for the 2% Fe-doped Cu2O material, secondary phases were present (either CuO or Fe3O4). The morphology and composition were characterized by SEM and EDAX. Measurements made by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) indicated paramagnetic behavior at 300 K and diamagnetic behavior at 77 K for the 1% Fe-doped Cu2O. Diffuse reflectance (DRS) measurements indicated that a red shift in the band gap of Cu2O occurs on doping with Fe.