Advanced Materials, Vol.21, No.22, 2282-2282, 2009
Electronic Manifestation of Cation-Vacancy-Induced Magnetic Moments in a Transparent Oxide Semiconductor: Anatase Nb:TiO2
Nb-doped anatase TiO2 thin films grown by pulsed-laser deposition show Kondo scattering in elctronic-transport measurements, providing evidence for the formation of magnetic moments. The origin of magnetism is attributed to cation (Ti) vacancies, confirmed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and first-principle calculations. The Ti vacancies are controlled by oxygen partial pressure during growth.