Hydrogen shallow donors in Co-doped ZnO showing room-temperature ferromagnetism

Room-temperature ferromagnetism has been identified in sol–gel-prepared Co-doped ZnO (ZnCoO), hydrogen being incorporated by a linear polymer polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The magnetic order was investigated by the X-ray photoemission and magnetization measurements in view of the interstitial hydrogen being coupled with Co²⁺. The electron paramagnetic resonance measurements revealed that hydrogens not contributing to the magnetic order occupy the shallow donor levels in the hydrogenated ZnCoO system.