Co and Ni codoped ZnO-based dilute magnetic semiconductors having a general formula of Zn0.9Co 0.1-xNixO (x =0.0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10) have been prepared using a simple solid-state reaction method. A single-phase hexagonal wurtzite structure, confirmed by X-ray diffraction, has been developed for Zn0.9Co0.1-xNixO(x < 0.05), while minor secondary peaks of NiO were detected in samples having x = 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10. The study of surface morphology revealed grain sizes in the range of 1.410.71 Raman spectra in the 200-800 cm(-1) range have been studied. The direct band gap energy for all the samples was found to be less than that of pure ZnO. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy confirmed the incorporation of the Co and Ni ions into a ZnO lattice. Magnetic characterisation performed by vibrating sample magnetometer exhibited room-temperature ferromagnetism. Temperature-dependent electrical resistivity measurements were performed using a four-point probe technique. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.