Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 May 2014
The present study describes magnetic interactions in (Zn1–xCox)Ga2O4 (x = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.20) particles dependant on Co atoms in both tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The effects of substituted Co atoms to magnetic character are analyzed using Curie–Weiss law. The ferromagnetic character is found dominant in (Zn1–xCox)Ga2O4 semiconductors for x values lower than 0.10; in addition, a specific hysteresis with 139 ± 50 Oe coercivity is observed for 5% Co-doped ZnGa2O4. The high Co amount in tetrahedral site increased the number of antiferromagnetic couplings and the hysteresis at 300 K disappeared for (Zn0.80Co0.20)Ga2O4 particles. Furthermore, the Co+3 ions in the octahedral site decreased µeff values, per Co amounts, in the range of 4.89 ± 0.01 µB/Co to 4.44 ± 0.02 µB/Co, because of enhancing paramagnetic behaviors.