PNNL

Abstract

Some new candidate ferromagnetic semiconductors have recently been discovered by doping semiconducting transition metal oxides with magnetic impurities. Some of these exhibit ferromagnetism at and above room temperature. The critical question is why? In many cases, complex solid state chemistry is involved in the synthesis and drives the resulting properties. The observation of room temperature ferromagnetism in these materials must be accompanied by a careful identification of phases and structures present in order to accurately identify the origin of the magnetism.