Europium incorporation dynamics within NiO films deposited by sol-gel spin coating: Experimental and theoretical studies. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goumri-Said, Souraya; Khan, Wilayat; Boubaker, Karem; Turgut, G.; Sönmez, E.; Minar, Jan; Bououdina, Mohamed; Kanoun, Mohammed Benali
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 118(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: NiO -- Sol-gel spin coating -- Eu incorporation -- DFT -- Spintronics; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2019.110525
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Europium contributed NiO thin layers were grown on glass substrates via sol-gel spin coating. The crystal structure, surface topography, optical character of pure NiO sample were investigated. XRD/AFM observations revealed that NiO:Eu films were nano-sized polycrystalline cubic bunsenite structure with preferential direction. Ab-initio calculations have elucidated the changes in electronic, magnetic and optical properties. Abstract: Europium doped NiO thin films were grown onto glass substrates via sol-gel spin coating. The evolution of crystal structure, surface topography, and optical properties of NiO was investigated as a function of Eu doping concentration. AFM observations and XRD analysis revealed that NiO:Eu films composed of nano-sized grains exhibit a polycrystalline cubic bunsenite structure with (200) preferential orientation. Optical study showed that the optical band gap of doped NiO films initially increased with low Eu incorporation ratio then decreased with higher Eu content. However, the Urbach energy increased gradually with Eu doping level. First principle calculations were performed to elucidate the changes on electronic, magnetic and optical properties of NiO due to Eu doping. The incorporation of Eu within NiO host lattice induced a strong hybridization between Eu- f and Ni- d states resulting in important changes of bulk magnetization.