Journal Article

YN2 monolayer： Novel p-state Dirac half metal for high-speed spintronics

Zhifeng Liu Junyan Liu Jijun Zhao

2017

Overview

In spintronics, it is highly desirable to find new materials that can simultaneously possess complete spin-polarization, high-speed conduction electrons, large Curie temperature, and robust ferromagnetic ground states. Using first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that the stable YN2 monolayer with octahedral coordination is a novel p-state Dirac half metal （DHM）, which not only has a fully spin-polarized Dirac state, but also the highest Fermi velocity （3.74×10^5 m/s） of the DHMs reported to date. In addition, its half-metallic gap of 1.53 eV is large enough to prevent the spin-flip transition. Because of the strong nonlocal p orbitals of N atoms （N-p） direct exchange interaction, the Curie temperature reaches over 332 K. Moreover, its ferromagnetic ground state can be well preserved under carrier doping or external strain. Therefore, the YN2 monolayer is a promising DHM for high-speed spintronic devices and would lead to new opportunities in designing other p-state DHMs.

• Publisher: Tsinghua University Press
• Subject: Atomic properties / Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra / Biomedicine / Biotechnology / Chemistry and Materials Science / Condensed Matter Physics / Conduction / Conduction electrons / Conduction heating / Curie temperature / Electrons / Ferromagnetism / First principles / High speed / Magnetism / Materials Science / Monolayers / Nanotechnology / Polarization (spin alignment) / Research Article / Spintronics