Room temperature ferromagnetism and enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO:Ga nanorods

In the present report, we represent on synthesis of pristine ZnO and ZnO:Ga nanorods by a simple and economical hydrothermal method. Comprehensive structural analyses revealed that the Ga dopant ions were effectively penetrated the ZnO parent matrix. Morphological analysis illustrated that the synthesized samples belonged to one-dimensional nanostructures such as nanorods. Optical studies revealed the substitution of the Ga dopant into the host lattice and reduction of the optical bandgap. Enhanced luminescence characteristics were observed in the pristine ZnO nanorods through photoluminescence spectroscopic analysis. Magnetic hysteresis loops indicated that both, the pristine ZnO and ZnO:Ga nanorods, exhibited strong ferromagnetic characteristics. Photocatalytic studies revealed that the ZnO:Ga nanorods exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity than the pristine ZnO, by degrading methyl orange (MO) in aqueous media under UV light irradiation.