Shaped Co2+ doped TiO2 nanocrystals synthesized from nanotubular precursor: Structure and ferromagnetic behavior

Abstract Co2+ doped TiO2 nanocrystals were synthetized by a hydrothermal treatment procedure applied to precursor dispersion of titania nanotubes and Co2+ ions. Mixture of polygonal and prolate spheroid-like nanocrystals was obtained. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that resulted nanocrystals retain anatase crystal phase for both dopant concentrations (1.69 and 2.5 at%), but the crystal lattice parameters were affected. Reflection spectra revealed altered optical properties compared to bare TiO2. Room temperature ferromagnetic ordering with saturation magnetic moment in the range of 0.001–0.002 μ B/Co was observed for both measured films made of Co2+ doped TiO2 nanocrystals