Electron spin resonance and Raman studies of Mn-doped ZnO ceramics

In the present work, the influence of annealing on structure, electron spin resonance (ESR), and Raman scattering (RS) spectra of x at. % Mn-doped ZnO (x=4 and 8) ceramic compounds has been systematically investigated. The samples were annealed at temperatures (T-an) between 400 and 1000 degrees C for 12 h. The obtained results revealed the strong dependence of x-ray diffraction, ESR, and RS spectra on the annealing temperature T-an. Mn2+ ions did not substitute into Zn2+ sites in samples annealed in the range of 400-600 degrees C but started to substitute into Zn2+ sites for annealing temperatures T(an >)600 degrees C. The results of this investigation provide further insights into the physical processes occurring in Mn-doped ZnO materials due to annealing. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.