Room temperature ferromagnetic properties of In2S3 nanoparticles regulated by doping with Gd ions

Abstract

In₂S₃, having a suitable bandgap and tunable magnetism, is a promising material for spintronic applications. Herein, we report that pristine In₂S₃ and In₂S₃:Gd³⁺ nanoparticles, with room temperature ferromagnetism, were synthesized by a gas–liquid phase chemical deposition method. The bandgap value, photoluminescence (PL) intensity and magnetic properties of In₂S₃:Gd³⁺ nanoparticles can be tuned by regulating the Gd³⁺ dopant concentration. In addition, the measured saturation magnetization in undoped In₂S₃ nanoparticles is 0.011 emu g⁻¹ and the maximum saturation magnetization observed in In₂S₃:Gd³⁺ nanoparticles is 0.035 emu g⁻¹; the corresponding magnetic mechanism is explicated based on bound-magnetic-polaron (BMP) theory. First-principles DFT calculations reveal that In vacancy and Gd³⁺ ion doping can induce intrinsic ferromagnetism. Finally, the results obtained from experiment and theory suggest the potential of Gd-doped In₂S₃ for application in spintronic devices.