Irradiation-induced magnetic ordering in SiC: Experimental results and a density functional study
- School of Physics and State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, Shandong (China)
- Key Laboratory of Nuclear Radiation and Nuclear Energy Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800 (China)
Magnetism of 6H-SiC single crystals implanted with 3 MeV protons is studied both experimentally and theoretically. We found that proton irradiation can induce stable ferromagnetism in 6H-SiC with a Curie temperature above 300 K. There is a dose window available for tuning the magnetization of the samples. The maximum saturation magnetizations (0.17 emu/g) are three orders of magnitude larger than that reported in neutron-irradiated SiC crystals (1 × 10{sup −4} emu/g). First-principles calculations indicate that the ferromagnetism is related to the divacancy-related defects (V{sub Si}V{sub C} + nH, (n = 1–3)) generated under proton irradiation. This offers a promising route for the development of metal-free SiC magnets.
- OSTI ID:
- 22217714
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 103; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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