Co-Rich ZnCoO Nanoparticles Embedded in Wurtzite Zn1-xCoxO Thin Films: Possible Origin of Superconductivity

Yu-Jia Zeng; Nicolas Gauquelin; Dan-Ying Li; Shuang-Chen Ruan; Hai-Ping He; Ricardo Egoavil; Zhi-Zhen Ye; Johan Verbeeck; Joke Hadermann; Margriet J Van Bael; Chris Van Haesendonck

doi:10.1021/acsami.5b06363

Co-Rich ZnCoO Nanoparticles Embedded in Wurtzite Zn1-xCoxO Thin Films: Possible Origin of Superconductivity

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015 Oct 14;7(40):22166-71. doi: 10.1021/acsami.5b06363. Epub 2015 Oct 2.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Laser Engineering, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University , Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China.
² Solid State Physics and Magnetism Section, KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200 D, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
³ State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT), University of Antwerp , Groenenborgerlaan 171, BE-2020 Antwerp, Belgium.

PMID: 26387766
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b06363

Abstract

Co-rich ZnCoO nanoparticles embedded in wurtzite Zn0.7Co0.3O thin films are grown by pulsed laser deposition on a Si substrate. Local superconductivity with an onset Tc at 5.9 K is demonstrated in the hybrid system. The unexpected superconductivity probably results from Co3+ in the Co-rich ZnCoO nanoparticles or from the interface between the Co-rich nanoparticles and the Zn0.7Co0.3O matrix.

Keywords: ZnCoO; ZnO; nanoparticles; superconductivity; wurtzite.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't