Interaction of Adatoms with Two-Dimensional Metal Monochalcogenides (GaS, GaSe)

TL;DR

This study uses first principles calculations to analyze how various adatoms interact with GaS and GaSe monolayers, revealing strong chemisorption, electronic structure modifications, and potential magnetic properties relevant for future applications.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into adatom adsorption effects on GaX monolayers, highlighting chemisorption behaviors, electronic modifications, and magnetic potential, which are novel for these materials.

Findings

Most adatoms form strong chemisorption bonds with GaX monolayers.

Certain adatoms induce spin polarization and magnetic moments.

Overall hexagonal structure of monolayers is preserved after adsorption.

Abstract

In this paper, we report first principles calculations based on density functional theory to reveal the effects of selected adatoms (Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, B, C, N, O, Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, As, Se and S) adsorption on GaX ( where X=S, Se) monolayers. It is found that all adatoms adsorbed on GaX monolayers can form strong chemisorption bonds except for Mg atom due to weak bonding nature of Mg atom with early 3d transition metals. Most of the adatoms of the same group elements of the periodic table are bound to GaX substrates at the same adsorption sites. All adatoms stayed above the upper layer of GaX sheets except for Be adatom on GaSe substrate and overall hexagonal geometry has been retained. The electronic structures are modified by locally through the supercell calculations. Specific adatoms, such as C, Si, Ge, N, P and As give rise to spin polarization and attain integer magnetic moments and hence can contribute half metallic character to the system. Our results can serve as a basis for future experimental and theoretical studies of adsorption on GaX.