Room temperature ferromagnetism in un-doped amorphous HfO ₂ nano-helix arrays

Abstract

Amorphous HfO2 nano-helix arrays with different screw pitches were fabricated by the glancing angle deposition technique. Room temperature ferromagnetism was achieved in this undoped amorphous HfO2 nanostructure, which is attributed to singly charged oxygen vacancies. The different magnetic behavior and photoluminescence in flat film and nano-helix arrays originate from the distinction of defect components. This study could facilitate the understanding of ferromagnetism origin in undoped HfO2, it also suggests a possible way to alter the intrinsic defects in amorphous HfO2.