Electronic Structures of SiC Nanoribbons

TL;DR

This study investigates the electronic properties of SiC nanoribbons, revealing their potential for spintronics due to unique magnetic and half-metallic behaviors, especially in narrow zigzag configurations.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of the magnetic and half-metallic properties of SiC nanoribbons using spin-polarized density functional calculations.

Findings

Armchair nanoribbons are nonmagnetic semiconductors.

Zigzag nanoribbons are magnetic metals.

Narrow zigzag nanoribbons exhibit half-metallicity.

Abstract

Electronic structures of SiC nanoribbons have been studied by spin-polarized density functional calculations. The armchair nanoribbons are nonmagnetic semiconductor, while the zigzag nanoribbons are magnetic metal. The spin polarization in zigzag SiC nanoribbons is originated from the unpaired electrons localized on the ribbon edges. Interestingly, the zigzag nanoribbons narrower than $\sim$4 nm present half-metallic behavior. Without the aid of external field or chemical modification, the metal-free half-metallicity predicted for narrow SiC zigzag nanoribbons opens a facile way for nanomaterial spintronics applications.