Induce magnetism into silicene by embedding transition-metal atoms

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4921699· OSTI ID:22423741

Sun, Xiaotian; Wang, Lu; Lin, Haiping; Hou, Tingjun; Li, Youyong ^[1]

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1. Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-based Functional Materials and Devices, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu (China)

Embedding transition-metal (TM) atoms into nonmagnetic nanomaterials is an efficient way to induce magnetism. Using first-principles calculations, we systematically investigated the structural stability and magnetic properties of TM atoms from Sc to Zn embedded into silicene with single vacancy (SV) and double vacancies (DV). The binding energies for different TM atoms correlate with the TM d-shell electrons. Sc, Ti, and Co show the largest binding energies of as high as 6 eV, while Zn has the lowest binding energy of about 2 eV. The magnetic moment of silicene can be modulated by embedding TM atoms from V to Co, which mainly comes from the 3d orbitals of TM along with partly contributions from the neighboring Si atoms. Fe atom on SV and Mn atom on DV have the largest magnetic moment of more than 3 μB. In addition, we find that doping of N or C atoms on the vacancy site could greatly enhance the magnetism of the systems. Our results provide a promising approach to design silicene-based nanoelectronics and spintronics device.

• OSTI ID: 22423741
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 106; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BINDING ENERGY
EV RANGE 01-10
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETISM
NANOELECTRONICS
NANOMATERIALS
SILICENE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VACANCIES