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

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Abstract

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 × 105 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.

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Acknowledgements

This work is currently supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11547260, 11134005, 11574040, and 11604165), the Scientific Research Project of Universities in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (No. NJZY006), Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia (No. 2016BS0104) and the 2014 Startup Project for the Introducing Doctor of Inner Mongolia University (No. 21200-5145135).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, China

    Zhifeng Liu & Junyan Liu

  2. Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing, 100094, China

    Zhifeng Liu & Jijun Zhao

  3. Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China

    Jijun Zhao

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  1. Zhifeng Liu
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Correspondence to Jijun Zhao.

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Liu, Z., Liu, J. & Zhao, J. YN2 monolayer: Novel p-state Dirac half metal for high-speed spintronics. Nano Res. 10, 1972–1979 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-016-1384-3

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