Two-dimensional transition metal halide PdX_(2)(X=F,Cl,Br,I):A promising candidate of bipolar magnetic semiconductors

Two-dimensional(2D)nanomaterials with bipolar magnetism show great promise in spintronic applications.Manipulating carriers'spin-polarized orientation in bipolar magnetic semiconductor(BMS)requires a gate voltage,but that is volatile.Recently,a new method has been proposed to solve the problem of volatility by introducing a ferroelectric gate with proper band alignment.In this paper,we predict that the PdX_(2)(X=F,Cl,Br,I)monolayers are 2D ferromagnetic BMS with dynamic stability,thermal stability,and mechanical stability by first-principles calculations.The critical temperatures are higher than the boiling point of liquid nitrogen and the BMS characteristics are robust against external strains and electric fields for PdCl_(2) and PdBr_(2).Then,we manipulate the spin-polarization of PdCl_(2) and PdBr_(2) by introducing a ferroelectric gate to enable magnetic half-metal/semiconductor switching and spin-up/down polarization switching control.Two kinds of spin devices(multiferroic memory and spin filter)have been proposed to realize the spin-polarized directions of electrons.These results demonstrate that PdCl_(2) and PdBr_(2) with BMS characters can be widely used as a general material structure for spintronic devices.

Discovery of new potential magnetic semiconductors in quaternary Heusler compounds by addition of lanthanides

Magnetic semiconductors have attracted a lot of attention by having both electronic charge and spin degrees of freedom. In this paper, we obtained twenty magnetic semiconductors such as FeVLaSb, FeVPrSb, FeCrTbSi, CoVDySi, and CoVHoSi by adding lanthanides to quaternary Heusler compounds based on the Slater-Pauling law and orbital hybridization theory. The relationship between the lattice constants and energy gaps of the magnetic semiconductors with lanthanide elements is investigated by in-depth analysis. These magnetic semiconductors of quaternary Heusler compounds are promising candidates to find applications as spin filtering materials in spintronics devices.

Double Covalency Factors and DoubleξModel in Study on Optical and Magnetic Properties of Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors ZnX∶Co~ 2+

The optical absorption spectra of the covalent crystals ZnX(X=S,Se) doped with Co 2+ are studied using the double covalency factors,which considers the anisotropic distortion of e g and t 2g orbits for d electron.When the paramagnetic g factor is calculated,the contributions of the spin orbit coupling from the ligand ions are taken into account besides that from the central ion,which is the double ξ model.The calculated results indicate that the theoretical values coincide with the experimental values very well.This suggests that the method presented in this paper could be more valid to some strongly covalent crystals.

Families of magnetic semiconductors——an overview

The interplay of magnetic and semiconducting properties has been in the focus for more than a half of the century. In this introductory article we briefly review the key properties and functionalities of various magnetic semiconductor families, including europium chalcogenides, chromium spinels, dilute magnetic semiconductors, dilute ferromagnetic semiconductors and insulators, mentioning also sources of non-uniformities in the magnetization distribution, accounting for an apparent high Curie temperature ferromagnetism in many systems. Our survey is carried out from today's perspective of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spintronics as well as of the emerging fields of magnetic topological materials and atomically thin 2D layers.

Magnetic properties of Mn-doped ZnO diluted magnetic semiconductors

A series of Mn-doped ZnO films have been prepared in different sputtering plasmas by using the inductively coupled plasma enhanced physical vapour deposition. The films show paramagnetic behaviour when they are deposited in an argon plasma. The Hall measurement indicates that ferromagnetism cannot be realized by increasing the electron concentration. However, the room-temperature ferromagnetism is obtained when the films are deposited in a mixed argon-nitrogen plasma. The first-principles calculations reveal that antiferromagnetic ordering is favoured in the case of the substitution of Mn^2＋ for Zn^2＋ without additional acceptor doping. The substitution of N for O （NO^-） is necessary to induce ferromagnetic couplings in the Zn-Mn-O system. The hybridization between N 2p and Mn 3d provides an empty orbit around the Fermi level. The hopping of Mn 3d electrons through the empty orbit can induce the ferromagnetic coupling. The ferromagnetism in the N-doped Zn-Mn-O system possibly originates from the charge transfer between Mn^2＋ and Mn^3＋ via NO^-, The key factor is the empty orbit provided by substituting N for O, rather than the conductivity type or the carrier concentration.

Oxide magnetic semiconductors: Materials, properties, and devices

We give a brief introduction to the oxide （ZnO, TiO2, In2O3, SnO2, etc.）-based magnetic semiconductors from fundamental material aspects through fascinating magnetic, transport, and optical properties, particularly at room temperature, to promising device applications. The origin of the observed ferromagnetism is also discussed, with a special focus on first-principles investigations of the exchange interactions between transition metal dopants in oxide-based magnetic semiconductors.

Preparation of Single Crystals of Co_xZn_(1-x)S and Co_xZn_(1-x)Se—New Materials of Dilute Magnetic Semiconductors

In this paper, we report the growth of single crystals of Co_x Zn_(1-x)S and Co_x Zn_(1-x)Se (0<x<0.3) by the method of chemical transport, using iodine as a transport agent. The light green color of single crystal Co_xZn_(1-x)S as well as the light brown color of Co_xZn_(1-x)Se become deep with an increase in x. The compositions of the single crystals were nearly stoichiometric. The transfer rate decreases with an increase of the x value. The growth rate was related to the temperature difference. The large temperature difference speed up the growth rate, but the size of crystal obtained was small. In general, the optimal temperature difference was 15℃. From X-ray diffraction measurements, the structures of crystals Co_xZn_(1-x)S and Co_xZn_(1-x)Se (0<x<0.1) were identified to be zinc blende structure similar to that of ZnS and ZnSe.

Study of magnetic and optical properties of Zn1-xTMxTe(TM = Mn,Fe,Co,Ni) diluted magnetic semiconductors：First principle approach

We present structural,magnetic and optical characteristics of Zn_（1-x）TM_xTe（TM = Mn,Fe,Co,Ni and x = 6.25%）,calculated through Wien2 k code,by using full potential linearized augmented plane wave（FP-LAPW） technique.The optimization of the crystal structures have been done to compare the ferromagnetic（FM） and antiferromagnetic（AFM） ground state energies,to elucidate the ferromagnetic phase stability,which further has been verified through the formation and cohesive energies.Moreover,the estimated Curie temperatures T_c have demonstrated above room temperature ferromagnetism（RTFM） in Zn_（1-x）TM_xTe（TM =Mn,Fe,Co,Ni and x= 6.25%）.The calculated electronic properties have depicted that Mn- and Co-doped ZnTe behave as ferromagnetic semiconductors,while half-metallic ferromagnetic behaviors are observed in Fe- and Ni-doped ZnTe.The presence of ferromagnetism is also demonstrated to be due to both the p-d and s-d hybridizations between the host lattice cations and TM impurities.The calculated band gaps and static real dielectric constants have been observed to vary according to Penn＇s model.The evaluated band gaps lie in near visible and ultraviolet regions,which make these materials suitable for various important device applications in optoelectronic and spintronic.

Theoretical prediction and experimental realization of transition metal doped rutiles as diluted magnetic semiconductors

First principle calculations have been performed to study the electron structures and magnetic properties of transition metal doped ruilles in order to predict room temperature diluted magnetic semiconductors. Different doping configurailons have been calculated to find the preferred doping site. The ground state energies of both FM and AFM states have been calculated to study the magnetic coupling between the dopants. The calculation results show the Co doped mutile has a Curie temperature of 1438 K. Co doped mille films have been prepared on Si substrate by magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction results show that the deposited film is ruille. Hysteresis loop curves measured by vibration sample magnetization show that the film is ferromagnetic at root temperature.

Structural stability at high pressure, electronic, and magnetic properties of BaFZnAs：A new candidate of host material of diluted magnetic semiconductors

The layered semiconductor BaFZnAs with the tetragonal ZrCuSiAs-type structure has been successfully synthesized.Both the in-situ high-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction and the high-pressure Raman scattering measurements demonstrate that the structure of BaFZnAs is stable under pressure up to 17.5 GPa at room temperature. The resistivity and the magnetic susceptibility data show that BaFZnAs is a non-magnetic semiconductor. BaFZnAs is recommended as a candidate of the host material of diluted magnetic semiconductor.

First-Principles Studies the Lattice Constants and the Electronic Structures of Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors (In,Mn)As

Lattice constants and electronic structures of diluted magnetic semiconductors （ In, Mn ） As were investigated using the first principles LMTO-ASA band calculation by assuming supercell structures. Three concentrations of the 3 d impurities were studied （ x = 1/2, 1/4, 1/8）. The effect of varying Mn coucentrations on the lattice constants and the electronic structures are shown.

A Green’s function model for ferromagnetism and spin excitations of (Ga, Mn)As diluted magnetic semiconductors

We study （Ga, Mn）As diluted magnetic semiconductors in terms of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida quantum spin model in Green＇s function approach. Random distributions of the magnetic atoms are treated by using an analytical average of magnetic configurations. Average magnetic moments and spin excitation spectra as functions of temperature can be obtained by solving self-consistent equations, and the Curie temperature TC is given explicitly. Tc is proportional to magnetic atomic concentration, and there exists a maximum for Tc as a function of carrier concentration. Applied to （Ga, Mn）As, the theoretical results are consistent with experiment and the experimental TC can be obtained with reasonable parameters. This modelling can also be applied to other diluted magnetic semiconductors.

Enhanced magnetic anisotropy and high hole mobility in magnetic semiconductor Ga_(1-x-y)Fe_(x)Ni_(y)Sb

(Ga,Fe)Sb is a promising magnetic semiconductor(MS)for spintronic applications because its Curie temperature(T_(C))is above 300 K when the Fe concentration is higher than 20%.However,the anisotropy constant Ku of(Ga,Fe)Sb is below 7.6×10^(3)erg/cm^(3)when Fe concentration is lower than 30%,which is one order of magnitude lower than that of(Ga,Mn)As.To address this issue,we grew Ga_(1-x-y)Fe_(x)Ni_(y)Sb films with almost the same x(≈24%)and different y to characterize their magnetic and electrical transport properties.We found that the magnetic anisotropy of Ga_(0.76-y)Fe_(0.24)Ni_(y)Sb can be enhanced by increasing y,in which Ku is negligible at y=1.7%but increases to 3.8×10^(5)erg/cm^(3)at y=6.1%(T_(C)=354 K).In addition,the hole mobility(μ)of Ga_(1-x-y)Fe_(x)Ni_(y)Sb reaches 31.3 cm^(2)/(V∙s)at x=23.7%,y=1.7%(T_(C)=319 K),which is much higher than the mobility of Ga_(1-x)Fe_(x)Sb at x=25.2%(μ=6.2 cm^(2)/(V∙s)).Our results provide useful information for enhancing the magnetic anisotropy and hole mobility of(Ga,Fe)Sb by using Ni co-doping.

Anomalous bond lengthening in compressed magnetic doped semiconductor Ba(Zn_(0.95)Mn_(0.05))_(2)As_(2)

Applying pressure has been evidenced as an effective method to control the properties of semiconductors,owing to its capability to modify the band configuration around Fermi energy.Correspondingly,structural evolutions under external pres-sures are required to analyze the mechanisms.Herein high-pressure structure of a magnetic doped semiconductor Ba(Zn_(0.95)Mn_(0.05))_(2)As_(2)is studied with combination of in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffractions and diamond anvil cells.The materials become ferromagnetic with Curie temperature of 105 K after further 20%K doping.The title material undergoes an isostruc-tural phase transition at around 19 GPa.Below the transition pressure,it is remarkable to find lengthening of Zn/Mn-As bond within Zn/MnAs layers,since chemical bonds are generally shortened with applying pressures.Accompanied with the bond stretch,interlayer As-As distances become shorter and the As-As dimers form after the phase transition.With further compres-sion,Zn/Mn-As bond becomes shortened due to the recovery of isotropic compression on the Zn/MnAs layers.

Regulating the dopant clustering in LiZnAs-based diluted magnetic semiconductor

Tuning of the magnetic interaction plays the vital role in reducing the clustering of magnetic dopant in diluted magnetic semiconductors(DMS).Due to the not well understood magnetic mechanism and the interplay between different magnetic mechanisms,no efficient and universal tuning strategy is proposed at present.Here,the magnetic interactions and formation energies of isovalent-doped(Mn) and aliovalent(Cr)-doped LiZnAs are studied based on density functional theory(DFT).It is found that the dopant–dopant distance-dependent magnetic interaction is highly sensitive to the carrier concentration and carrier type and can only be explained by the interplay between two magnetic mechanisms,i.e.,superexchange and Zener’s p–d exchange model.Thus,the magnetic behavior and clustering of magnetic dopant can be tuned by the interplay between two magnetic mechanisms.The insensitivity of the tuning effect to U parameter suggests that our strategy could be universal to other DMS.

First-Principle Study on the Electronic Structure and Optical Property of New Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor(Y_(0.75)Ca_(0.25))(Cu_(0.75)Mn_(0.25))SO

The band structure,DOSs,and optical properties of(Y_(0.75)Ca_(0.25))(Cu_(0.75)Mn_(0.25))SO,including dielectric function,absorption function,reflection function,and energy loss spectrum were studied by using the first-principles calculation.The calculation results indicate that(Y_(0.75)Ca_(0.25))(Cu_(0.75)Mn_(0.25))SO is a direct bandgap semiconductor with a bandgap of 1.1 eV.The Fermi surface is asymmetric and exhibits spin splitting phenomenon.The new type of dilute magnetic semiconductor(Y_(0.75)Ca_(0.25))(Cu_(0.75)Mn_(0.25))SO exhibits significant light loss around 70 eV,with light reflection gradually increasing after 30 eV,and light absorption mainly occurring around 8-30 eV.These results also provide a basis for the discovery of more types of 1111 phase new dilute magnetic semiconductors in the future.

First principles study on the structural, electronic and optical properties of diluted magnetic semiconductors Zn1-xCoxX （X=S, Se, Te）

The electronic and optical properties of zincblende ZnX（X=S, Se, Te） and ZnX：Co are studied from density functional theory （DFT） based first principles calculations. The local crystal structure changes around the Co atoms in the lattice are studied after Co atoms are doped. It is shown that the Co-doped materials have smaller lattice constant （about 0.6%-0.9%）. This is mainly due to the shortened Co-X bond length. The （partial） density of states （DOS） is calculated and differences between the pure and doped materials are studied. Results show that for the Co-doped materials, the valence bands are moving upward due to the existence of Co 3d electron states while the conductance bands are moving downward due to the reduced lattice constants. This results in the narrowed band gap of the doped materials. The complex dielectric indices and the absorption coefficients are calculated to examine the influences of the Co atoms on the optical properties. Results show that for the Co-doped materials, the absorption peaks in the high wavelength region are not as sharp and distinct as the undoped materials, and the absorption ranges are extended to even higher wavelength region.

Observation of spin-glass behavior in 1111-type magnetic semiconductor(La,Ba)(Zn,Mn)SbO

We report the successful fabrication of a new 1111-type bulk magnetic semiconductor(La,Ba)(Zn,Mn)SbO through the solid solution of(La,Ba)and(Zn,Mn)in the parent compound LaZnSbO.The polycrystalline samples(La,Ba)(Zn,Mn)SbO crystallize into ZrCuSiAs-type tetragonal structure,which has the same structure as iron-based superconductor LaFeAsO_(1-δ).The DC magnetization measurements indicate the existence of spin-glass ordering,and the coercive field is up to~11500 Oe(1 Oe=79.5775 A·m^(-1)).The AC magnetic susceptibility further determines that the samples evolve into a conventional spin-glass ordering state below the spin freezing temperature T_(f).In addition,the negative magnetoresistance(MR≡[ρ(H)-ρ(0)]/ρ(0))reaches-88%under 9 T.

Two-dimensional bipolar magnetic semiconductors with high Curie-temperature and electrically controllable spin polarization realized in exfoliated Cr(pyrazine)_(2) monolayers

Exploring two-dimensional(2D)magnetic semiconductors with room-temperature magnetic ordering and electrically controllable spin-polarization is a highly desirable but challenging task for nano-spintronics.Here,through first-principles calculations,we propose to realize such a material by exfoliating the recently synthesized organometallic layered crystal Li0.7[Cr(pyz)_(2)]Cl0.7·0.25(THF)(pyz=pyrazine,THF=tetrahydrofuran).The feasibility of exfoliation is confirmed by the rather low exfoliation energy of 0.27 J m^(−2),even smaller than that of graphite.In exfoliated Cr(pyz)_(2)monolayers,each pyrazine ring grabs one electron from the Cr atom to become a radical anion,and then a strong d-p direct-exchange magnetic interaction emerges between Cr cations and pyrazine radicals,resulting in room-temperature ferrimagnetism with a Curie temperature of 342 K.Moreover,the Cr(pyz)_(2)monolayer is revealed to be an intrinsic bipolar magnetic semiconductor where electrical doping can induce half-metallic conduction with controllable spin-polarization direction.

A review of bipolar magnetic semiconductors from theoretical aspects

Spintronics,which employs electrons'spin degree of freedom in data storage and transmision,acts as a promising candidate for next-generation information technology owing to its improved processing speed and reduced power consumption.To seek and design materials with highly spin polarized carriers and find an efficient way to control the spin polarization direction of carriers are critical and urgent to spintronics applications.In this aspect,the bipolar magnetic semiconductor(BMS)serves as an ideal solution since it can generate currents with 100%spin polarization,and the direction of spin polarization is easily tunable by an external gate voltage,Up to now,there have been lots of BMSs predicted by first-principles calculations,however,most of them are extrinsically induced by chemical or physical modifications,and a generalized scheme for designing BMS materials is stil lacking,This paper is aimed to briefly review the existing BMS materials designed by theoretical simulations,analyze the main obstacles to experimental realization,and put forward suggestions for future development.