Magnetic and structural properties of Co doped WSe2

Transition metal doping in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides offers a promising route for tailoring magnetic and structural properties for spintronic applications. In this work, Co-doped WSe2 thin films were synthesized using a combination of DC, pulsed DC, and RF magnetron sputtering, followed by rapid thermal annealing at 600 °C. X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of the hexagonal 2H-WSe2 phase with a preferential c-axis orientation and no detectable secondary phases, indicating successful incorporation of Co into the lattice. Magnetic measurements reveal a significant enhancement in saturation magnetization and coercivity after annealing, attributed to improved crystallinity, reduced defect density, and strengthened exchange interactions between Co dopants and the WSe2 matrix. Angular-dependent studies demonstrate the emergence of magnetic anisotropy, while temperature-dependent measurements show stable coercivity over the range of 10–300 K, indicating robust ferromagnetic behavior. Raman spectroscopy further confirms lattice distortion and modified bonding environments due to Co incorporation, with annealing improving spectral sharpness and structural ordering. These results highlight the critical role of post-deposition annealing in optimizing the magnetic and structural properties of Co-doped WSe2, underscoring its potential for future spintronic and multifunctional device applications.