| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/D037581/1 |
| Title: |
Hall Effect studies of ZnO based magnets |
| Principal Investigator: |
Gehring, Professor G |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Physics and Astronomy |
| Organisation: |
University of Sheffield |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 2005 |
Ends: |
31 March 2006 |
Value (£): |
24,241
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This is an experimental study of thin films of a transparent material zinc oxide, ZnO, which also contains small amounts of the elements cobalt or manganese. Magnetism arises from the widely separated magnetic atoms that line up to make one big magnet. Some of the electrons are stuck around the defects and some are free to move. An electron that is stuck near a defect may only be sensitive to the magnetism of one of the localised magnetic atoms. The electric current comes from those that are free to move and it is these electrons that will move past many magnetic atoms and cause the magnetic moments on the individual magnetic ions to line up. This happens because all electrons actually have their own little magnetic moment.We have made detailed measurements of the magnetic properties of the magnetic zinc oxides as a function of temperature. We have also looked to see how the magnetic properties affect light as it passes through the material and this tells us that the magnetic electrons are distributed through the material and not just associated with the manganese and cobalt atoms that we know are magnetic. We already know the energies of the electron states and how magnetic they are. So far we do not know how many of the electrons are mobile and this is vitally important as they form the magnetic glue that holds the individual magnetic moments together.In this project we shall study the mobile electrons. We shall find out how many electrons are free to conduct electricity and how many are stuck near defects and how these numbers change as the crystal is cooled down. We shall make measurements that will tell us to what extent the magnetic moments on the individual mobile electrons are also lined up. The result of this project is that we shall have a much better understanding of how the magnetic glue works. We shall also understand how well this family of materials will function as magnetic semiconductors.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.shef.ac.uk |