New Diluted ferromagnetic semiconductor Li(Zn,Mn)P with decoupled charge and spin doping

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of Li(Zn,Mn)P, a new diluted magnetic semiconductor with independently controlled charge and spin doping, showing promising ferromagnetic properties suitable for spintronic applications.

Contribution

The study introduces Li(Zn,Mn)P as a novel ferromagnetic semiconductor with decoupled charge and spin doping, supported by experimental and first principles calculations.

Findings

Li(Zn,Mn)P is a p-type ferromagnetic semiconductor.

Excess Lithium provides charge doping and favors hole creation.

Ferromagnetism persists with low mobile carriers and small coercive force.

Abstract

We report the discovery of a new diluted magnetic semiconductor, Li(Zn,Mn)P, in which charge and spin are introduced independently via lithium off-stoichiometry and the isovalent substitution of Mn2+ for Zn2+, respectively. Isostructural to (Ga,Mn)As, Li(Zn,Mn)P was found to be a p-type ferromagnetic semiconductor with excess Lithium providing charge doping. First principles calculations indicate that excess Li is favored to partially occupy the Zn site, leading to hole doping. Ferromagnetism is mediated in semiconducting samples of relative low mobile carriers with a small coercive force, indicating an easy spin flip.