Electrical tuning of spin splitting in Bi-doped ZnO nanowires

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that applying an external electric field can effectively tune and enhance spin splitting in Bi-doped ZnO nanowires, enabling potential spintronic device applications controlled by electric fields.

Contribution

It reveals the electric tunability of spin splitting in Bi-doped ZnO nanowires using density functional theory, highlighting their potential for spintronic devices.

Findings

Spin splitting can be tuned and enhanced electrically.

The nanowire's response to electric fields is nonuniform and anisotropic.

Bi-doped ZnO nanowires can function as electrically controlled spintronic devices.

Abstract

The effect of applying an external electric field on doping-induced spin-orbit splitting of the lowest conduction-band states in a bismuth-doped zinc oxide nanowire is studied by performing electronic structure calculations within the framework of density functional theory. It is demonstrated that spin splitting in Bi-doped ZnO nanowires could be tuned and enhanced electrically via control of the strength and direction of the applied electric field, thanks to the nonuniform and anisotropic response of the ZnO:Bi nanowire to external electric fields. The results reported here indicate that a single ZnO nanowire doped with a low concentration of Bi could function as a spintronic device, operation of which is controlled by applied lateral electric fields.