Structural and Magnetic Properties of Co Doped CeO $_{2}$ Nano-Particles

Nanoparticles of Ce_1-xCo_xO₂ diluted magnetic semiconductors have been prepared by co-precipitation method. Effect of Co substitution has been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and DC magnetization measurements. XRD pattern demonstrate that all samples exhibit single phase polycrystalline behavior. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) calculated from XRD pattern has been found to decrease with increase in the Co contents, indicating that particle size decreases with increase in the Co concentration. TEM micrograph reflects the nano-crystalline behavior of all the samples and shows that doping of Co ions hinders growth of the particles. DC magnetization measurements performed at different temperature reveals that Co doped CeO₂ exhibits room temperature ferromagnetism.