Wurtzite-type CoO nanocrystals in ultrathin ZnCoO films

Meyerheim, H. L., Tusche, C., Ernst, A., Ostanin, S. A., Maznichenko, I. V., Mohseni, K., Jedrecy, N., Zegenhagen, J., Roy, J., Mertig, I., Kirschner, J.

Physical Review Letters 102, (15), pp 156102/1-4 (2009)

Surface x-ray diffraction experiments reveal that in cobalt-doped ZnO films two to five monolayers thick, Wurtzite-type CoO nanocrystals are coherently embedded within a hexagonal boron-nitride-(h-BN)-type ZnO matrix, supporting the model of a phase separation. First-principles calculations confirm that in contrast with ZnO the formation of h-BN-type CoO is unfavorable in the ultrathin film limit. Our results are important for understanding magnetic properties of transition metal-doped semiconducors in general.

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(Reference: TH-2009-10)