Spin dynamics in annealed Mn-doped ZnO ceramic materials

Abstract Influence of annealing on the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of Zn 1− x Mn x O:1 mol% Zn 3 P 2 ( x = 0.01 and 0.02) ceramics was systematically investigated. The samples were annealed at temperatures ( T an ) between 200 and 1100  ∘ C for 12 h. The ESR spectra revealed the three characteristic regions. In the first region ( 200 ≤ T an 700 ∘ C ), the ESR spectra exhibited a broad Lorentzian-type single line, and the ESR intensity decreased with increasing T an . In the second region ( 700 ≤ T an 1000 ∘ C ), the ESR spectra appeared Mn 2+ hyperfine lines within a broad Lorentzian single line, indicating that Mn 2+ ions substituted into Zn 2+ lattice sites. The signal intensity and number of Mn 2+ hyperfine lines increased with increasing T an . In the third region ( T an ≥ 1000 ∘ C ), the Mn 2+ hyperfine lines became broadened and finally blurred into the background line, resulting in a strong increase in the ESR signal. The origins of the ESR spectra, in relation to their X-ray diffraction patterns, are elucidated.