Ferromagnetism carried by highly delocalized hybrid states in Sc-doped ZnO thin films

Mohammed Kanoun, Souraya Goumri-Said, Aurelien Manchon, Udo Schwingenschlögl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present first-principles results for Sc-doped ZnOthin films. Neighboring Sc atoms in the surface and/or subsurface layers are found to be coupled ferromagnetically, where only two of the possible configurations induce spin polarization. In the first configuration, the polarization is carried by the Sc d states as expected for transition metaldoping. However, there is a second configuration which is energetically favorable. It is governed by polarized hybrid states of the Zns, O p, and Sc d orbitals. Such highly delocalized states can be an important ingredient for understanding the magnetism of dopedZnOthin films.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)222406
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume100
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - May 29 2012

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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