Structural and electronic properties of a single Si chain doped zigzag AlN nanoribbon

The first-principles projector-augmented wave (PAW) potentials within the density function theory (DFT) framework have been used to determine the geometry structures and electronic properties of the zigzag edge AlN nanoribbons (ZAlNNRs) doped with a single Si chain under generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The average Al–Si, Si–Si, Al–N, Si–N, Al–H and N–H bond lengths are 2.39, 2.16, 1.83, 1.74, 1.59 and 1.03 Å, respectively. Pure 7-ZAlNNR is an indirect semiconductor with a large band gap of 2.235 eV, while a semiconductor to metal transformation is taken place after a single Si chain substituting for a single Al–N chain at various positions. In pure 7-ZAlNNR, the HVB and LCB are mainly attributed to the edge N and Al atoms, respectively, while in a single Si chain substituting doped 7-ZAlNNR, the HVB and LCB are mainly attributed to the Si atoms. The Al–N, Al–H and Al–Si bonds are ionic bond, the Si–Si and Si–H bonds are covalent bond, the N–H and N–Si bonds are covalent bond modified ionic bond.     

Tuning the electronic and magnetic properties of zigzag silicene nanoribbons by 585 defects

Using first-principles calculations, we study the geometric structures, formation energies, electronic and magnetic properties of zigzag silicene nanoribbons (ZSiNRs) with 585 defects. There are two kinds of 585 defects in ZSiNRs referred as 585-I and 585-II, respectively. It is found that no matter which one of the two types, it is the most stable at the edge of the ZSiNR, and at this time it is even more stable than that in an infinite silicene sheet. Utilizing 585 defects, it can transform ZSiNRs from antiferromagnetic semiconductors into metals or half-metals. Especially, defective ZSiNRs may display nearly 100% spin-polarized half-metallic behavior induced by the 585-II defect, which maybe have potential applications in silicon-based spintronic devices. These results present the possibility of modulating the electronic and magnetic properties of ZSiNRs using 585 defects.     

Structural and electronic properties of endohedral doped SWCNTs: A DFT study

The structural and electronic properties of semiconductors (Si and Ge) and metal (Au and Tl) atoms doped armchair (n, n) and zigzag (n, 0); n=4–6, single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been studied using an ab-initio method. We have considered a linear chain of dopant atoms inside CNTs of different diameters but of same length. We have studied variation of B.E./atom, ionization potential, electron affinity and HOMO–LUMO gap of doped armchair and zigzag CNTs with diameter and dopant type. For armchair undoped CNTs, the B.E./atom increases with the increase in diameter of the tubes. For Si, Ge and Tl doped CNTs, B.E./atom is maximum for (6, 6) CNT whereas for Au doped CNTs, it is maximum for (5, 5) CNTs. For pure CNTs, IP decreases slightly with increasing diameter whereas EA increases with diameter. The study of HOMO–LUMO gap shows that on doping metallic character of the armchair CNTs increases whereas for zigzag CNTs semiconducting character increases. In case of zigzag tubes only Si doped (5, 0), (6, 0) and Ge doped (6, 0) CNTs are stable. The IP and EA for doped zigzag CNTs remain almost independent of tube diameter and dopant type whereas for doped armchair CNTs, maximum IP and EA are observed for (5, 5) tube for all dopants.     

Field-modulated low-energy electronic and optical properties of armchair silicene nanoribbons

The tight-binding model including spin–orbit coupling is used to study electronic and optical properties of armchair silicene nanoribbons (ASiNRs) in electric fields. Perpendicular electric field monotonically increases band-gap, the DOS, and absorption frequency and strength. It does not change spin-degeneracy, edge-states, and optical selection rule. However, parallel electric field strongly modulates energy dispersions resulting in oscillatory band-gaps, shift in edge-states, and destruction of spin-degeneracy. It induces more transition channels and constructs new selection rules that exhibits richer optical spectra. Modulations of electronic and optical properties of ASiNRs have strong dependence on the direction of electric field and nanoribbon's geometry.     

Impact of Phosphorus superlattices on charge and spin dependent transport properties of zigzag silicene nanoribbons

To investigate charge and spin dependent conductance properties of Phosphorus doped zigzag silicene nanoribbons (ZSiNRs), we utilize recursive Green's function method and Landauer-Büttiker formalism. Our calculations are performed in the absence and presence of exchange magnetic fields with both parallel and antiparallel configurations. Considering a supperlattice of Phosphorus substituents in a periodic distribution at the edge of nanoribbon, the effect of increasing number of dopants and period of the distribution on transport properties are studied. It is found that transport properties of doped ZSiNRs vary with doping concentration according to being odd or even of number of dopants. For parallel configuration, doped ZSiNR with various concentrations works as a controllable spin filter with Fermi energy. Increasing doping concentration leads to increasing size of conductance gap and improvement of controlling quality of spin-filtering property while increasing period of Phosphorus atomic distribution has destructive effect on size of conductance gap and destroys spin-filtering property. Moreover, we show that although the same results are obtained for transport properties of doped ZSiNR with various concentrations of Phosphorus atoms in presence of antiparallel exchange magnetic fields, a completely controllable spin-filtering property cannot be achieved by Fermi energy changes.     

The spin-dependent electronic transport properties of M(dcdmp)2 (M = Cu,Au, Co,Ni) molecular devices based on zigzag graphene nanoribbon electrodes

The spin-dependent electronic transport properties of M(dcdmp)₂ (M = Cu, Au, Co, Ni; dcdmp = 2,3-dicyano-5,6-dimercaptopyrazyne) molecular devices based on zigzag graphene nanoribbon (ZGNR) electrodes were investigated by density functional theory combined nonequilibrium Green's function method (DFT-NEGF). Our results show that the spin-dependent transport properties of the M(dcdmp)₂ molecular devices can be controlled by the spin configurations of the ZGNR electrodes, and the central 3d-transition metal atom can introduce a larger magnetism than that of the nonferrous metal one. Moreover, the perfect spin filtering effect, negative differential resistance, rectifying effect and magnetic resistance phenomena can be observed in our proposed M(dcdmp)₂ molecular devices.     

Contact position and width effect of graphene electrode on the electronic transport properties of dehydrobenzoannulenne molecule under bias

By applying nonequilibrium Green?s function formalism in combination with density functional theory, we have investigated the electronic transport properties of dehydrobenzoannulenne molecule attached to different positions of the zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) electrode. The different contact positions are found to drastically turn the transport properties of these systems. The negative differential resistance (NDR) effect can be found when the ZGNRs electrodes are mirror symmetry under the xz midplane, and the mechanism of NDR has been explained. Moreover, parity limitation tunneling effect can be found in a certain symmetry two-probe system and it can completely destroy electron tunneling process. The present findings might be useful for the application of ZGNRs-based molecular devices.     

Magnetic properties and electronic structures of hcp Fe,Co and Ni nanowires encapsulated in a zigzag (12,0) BN nanotube

The magnetic properties and electronic structures of ferromagnetic nanowires (FM=Fe, Co and Ni) encapsulated inside a zigzag (12,0) boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) are investigated by first-principle calculations. The relaxed geometry structures of FM/BNNT systems have only slightly changed. Formation energy analysis shows that the combining processes of Co/BNNT and Ni/BNNT systems are exothermic, and therefore the Co and Ni nanowires can be encapsulated into a semiconducting zigzag (12,0) BNNT and form stable hybrid structures. The charges are transferred from ferromagnetic nanowires to more electronegative BNNTs, and the formed FM–N bonds have covalent bond characteristics. The magnetic moments of FM/BNNT systems are smaller than those of the freestanding ferromagnetic nanowires, especially for the atoms on the outermost shell of the nanowires. The stable FM/BNNT systems exhibit higher magnetic moments, which can be useful for a wide variety of next-generation nanoelectronic device components.     

Structural stability and electronic properties of Ni-doped armchair graphene nanoribbons

The size dependent electronic properties of armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNR) with Ni doped atoms have been investigated using spin-unrestricted density functional theory. We predict antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground states for Ni-termination and one edge Ni-doping. The computed formation energy reveals that one edge Ni-terminated AGNR are energetically more favourable as compared to pristine ribbons. One edge substitutional doping is energetically more favourable as compared to centre doping by ∼1 eV whereas both edge doping is unfavourable. The bond length of substitutional Ni atoms is shorter than that of Ni adsorption in GNR, implying a stronger binding for substitutional Ni atoms. It is evident that binding energy is also affected by the coordination number of the foreign atom. The results show that Ni-interaction perturbs the electronic structure of the ribbons significantly, causing enhanced metallicity for all configurations irrespective of doping site. The band structures reveal the separation of spin up and down electronic states indicating towards the existence of spin polarized current in Ni-terminated and one edge doped ribbons. Our calculation predicts that AGNR containing Ni impurities can play an important role for the fabrication of spin filters and spintronic devices.     

Structural and electronic properties of perfect and defective BN nanoribbons: A DFT study

This paper deals with structural and electronic properties of a BN nanoribbon with the lateral profile having a zig-zag geometry, either perfect or with different kinds of defects. Calculations were implemented under standard DFT calculation procedures aiming to determine equilibrium structural positions and electronic properties. The considered defects include single and multiple vacancies, anti-sites and substitutional defects with carbon. Besides a discussion about the specific characteristics, structural and electronic, found for each case, the results are compared with previous calculations and experimental results available in the literature for the infinite layer, including possible magnetization resulting from unpaired electronic spins. Formation energies associated with defects of the nanoribbon are also calculated and compared with similar results for the infinite BN monolayer.     

Nitrogen and Boron substitutional doped zigzag silicene nanoribbons: Ab initio investigation

We performed a spin polarized density-function theory study of the stabilities, electronic and magnetic properties of zigzag silicene nanoribbons (ZSiNRs) substitutionally doped with a single N or B atom located at various sites ranging from edge to center of the ribbon. From minimization of the formation energy, it is found that the substitutional doping is favorable at edge of the ribbon. A single N or B atom substitution one edge Si atom of ZSiNRs can greatly suppress the spin-polarizations of the impurity atom site and its vicinity region, and leads to a transition from antiferromagnetic (AFM) state to ferromagnetic (FM) state, which is attributed to the splitting of the original spin degenerate edge bands. A single N atom doped ZSiNRs still keep semiconductor property but a single B atom doped ZSiNRs exhibit a half-metallic character. Our results reveal that substitution doped ZSiNRs have potential applications in Si-based nanoelectronics, such as field effect transisitors (FETs), negative differential resistance (NDR) and spin filter (SF) devices.     

Width dependent structural and electrical properties of zigzag ZnTe nanoribbons

We carry out density functional theory based investigation to understand the structural and electrical properties such as atomic structure, edge energy, band gap, and work function of zigzag ZnTe nanoribbons. It is found that the zigzag nanoribbons may be stabilized by passivating the edge atoms with Hydrogen, Oxygen or Fluorine atoms. Our study reflects that zigzag ZnTe nanoribbons with smaller width behave like semiconductor. However, they exhibit a transition from semiconducting phase to a metallic phase as width increases. A wide variation of band gap is obtained with respect to the choice of edge passivating elements. Work functions of all the nanoribbons are also estimated in order to assess the utility of these nanoribbons in various field emission devices.     

Ab initio study of structural, electronic and optical properties of MnHg(SCN)4 and FeHg(SCN)4

 The structural, electronic and optical properties of MnHg(SCN)₄ and FeHg(SCN)₄ were studied by means of quantum-mechanical calculations based on the density-functional theory and pseudopotential method. The lattice constants can be compared with the experimental values when the effects of temperature are considered. The peaks of partial density of states of S, C, N and Hg of FeHg(SCN)₄ have a tendency of shifting to the higher energy levels relative to those of MnHg(SCN)₄. The distributions of the 3d electronic states in the transition metal atoms show quite large difference and decide different optical properties. We found that absorptional peaks of FeHg(SCN)₄ lag behind those of MnHg(SCN)₄ and the peak in the infrared range has a higher absorptional intensity, which are in accord with the experimental results. By analyzing the distributions and transitions of the 3d electronic states, we explained the different absorption phenomena.     

Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of pristine and oxygen-adsorbed graphene nanoribbons

The structural, electronic and magnetic properties of pristine and oxygen-adsorbed (3,0) zigzag and (6,1) armchair graphene nanoribbons have been investigated theoretically, by employing the ab initio pseudopotential method within the density functional scheme. The zigzag nanoribbon is more stable with antiferromagnetically coupled edges, and is semiconducting. The armchair nanoribbon does not show any preference for magnetic ordering and is semiconducting. The oxygen molecule in its triplet state is adsorbed most stably at the edge of the zigzag nanoribbon. The Stoner metallic behaviour of the ferromagnetic nanoribbons and the Slater insulating (ground state) behaviour of the antiferromagnetic nanoribbons remain intact upon oxygen adsorption. However, the local magnetic moment of the edge carbon atom of the ferromagnetic zigzag ribbon is drastically reduced, due to the formation of a spin-paired C-O bond.     

Structural,electronic and optical properties of Ca3Bi2: First-principles investigation

In this work by applying first principles calculations structural, electronic and optical properties of Ca₃Bi₂ compound in hexagonal and cubic phases are studied within the framework of the density functional theory using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) approach. According to our study band gap for Ca₃Bi₂ in hexagonal phase are 0.47, 0.96 and 1?eV within the PBE-GGA, EV-GGA and mBJ-GGA, respectively. The corresponding values for cubic phase are 1.24, 2.08 and 2.14?eV, respectively. The effects of hydrostatic pressure on the behavior of the electronic properties such as band gap, valence bandwidths and anti-symmetry gap are investigated. It is found that the hydrostatic pressure increases the band widths of all bands below the Fermi energy while it decreases the band gap and the anti-symmetry gap. In our calculations, the dielectric tensor is derived within the random phase approximation (RPA). The first absorption peak in imaginary part of dielectric function for both phases is located in the energy range 2.0–2.5?eV which are beneficial to practical applications in optoelectronic devices in the visible spectral range. For instance, hexagonal phase of Ca₃Bi₂ with a band gap around 1?eV can be applied for photovoltaic application and cubic phase with a band gap of 2?eV can be used for water splitting application. Moreover, we found the optical spectra of hexagonal phase are anisotropic along E||x and E||z.     

Defect engineering on the electronic and transport properties of one-dimensional armchair phosphorene nanoribbons

We investigate the electronic and transport properties of one-dimensional armchair phosphorene nanoribbons(APNRs) containing atomic vacancies with different distributions and concentrations using ab initio density functional calculations. It is found that the atomic vacancies are easier to form and detain at the edge region rather than a random distribution through analyzing formation energy and diffusion barrier. The highly local defect states are generated at the vicinity of the Fermi level, and emerge a deep-to-shallow transformation as the width increases after introducing vacancies in APNRs.Moreover, the electrical transport of APNRs with vacancies is enhanced compared to that of the perfect counterparts. Our results provide a theoretical guidance for the further research and applications of PNRs through defect engineering.     

Structural and electronic properties of boron-doped double-walled silicon carbide nanotubes

The effects of boron doping on the structural and electronic properties of (6,0)@(14,0) double-walled silicon carbide nanotube (DWSiCNT) are investigated by using spin-polarized density functional theory. It is found that boron atom could be more easily doped in the inner tube. Our calculations indicate that a Si site is favorable for B under C-rich condition and a C site is favorable under Si-rich condition. Additionally, B-substitution at either single carbon or silicon atom site in DWSiCNT could induce spontaneous magnetization.     

First-principles study of electrical structures and optical properties of Ag or Au doped MgF2 crystal

The geometric structure, electronic and optical properties of MgF₂ crystal mixed with Ag, Au are obtained by adopting the first-principles calculation of plane wave ultra-soft pseudo-potential technology based upon the density function theory (DFT). The calculation results show that the doping of Ag and Au diminishes of the MgF₂ system and the occurrence of half-metallic properties with a greater influence of Au than Ag. In addition, the refractive index and absorption coefficient of the MgF₂ system are enhanced because of the doping. The modulation action on the refractive index of MgF₂ indicates potential application of the forbidden bandwidth doping in optical devices.     

Structural,electronic and magnetic properties of hydrogenated BC2N

Density functional theory has been used to study the electronic and magnetic properties as well as the stability on the hydrogenated BC₂N sheets. It is found that two different structures (BC₂NH-I and BC₂NH-II) with the ferromagnetic ground states can be formed when removing the H atoms from one side of semi-hydrogenated BC₂N sheet. By applying tensile strain, both of their magnetisms are robust to 2.0 μ_B. However, the magnetisms are sensitively changed by compressive strain larger than ?6%. The BC₂NH-I system can be transitioned from semiconductor to half-metal and then to metal when the compressive strain is changed from ?6% to ?8%. And the BC₂NH-II system can be changed into half-metal by applying the compressive strain between ?6% and ?7.5%. Our calculation results suggest a possible way to tune the electronic and magnetic properties by choosing the appropriate structural type and the external strain, which would have potential applications in spintronics and nanodevices.