Room Temperature Ferromagnetism in Transition Metal Doped TiO₂ Nanowires

Different transition metal ions doped TiO₂ nanowires were synthesized in ethanol/H₂O. The as prepared nanowires have a diameter of 50–100 nm and length of more than tens of micrometers. Structural and optical analyses indicate that metal ions have been doped into TiO₂. The results of the TEM, EDS analyses indicate that transition metals have been doped into TiO₂ crystal lattice. Besides, the magnetic properties of the nanowires are strongly dependent on the dopants, and room temperature ferromagnetism was obtained in Co and Cr doped samples. This study has proved that a few percent of Co and Cr substituting for Ti in TiO₂ can result in a potential diluted magnetic semiconductor.