Jessie Manopoabc,
Tio Prince Lubisab,
Muhammad Arief Mustajab Enha Maryonob,
Pepen Arifinb,
Toto Winatab,
Rena Widitad and
Yudi Darma*abc
aQuantum Semiconductor and Devices Lab, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jalan Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia. E-mail: yudi@itb.ac.id
bPhysics of Electronic Materials Research Division, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jalan Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia
cResearch Collaboration Center for Quantum Technology 2.0, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
dNuclear Physics and Biophysics Research Division, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jalan Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia
First published on 9th May 2023
We study the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of (LaO1−xFx)MnAs (x = 0, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25) systems, calculated using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) corrected by Hubbard energy (U) = 1 eV. For x = 0, this system shows equal bandgap (Eg) values for spin-up and spin-down of 0.826 eV, with antiferromagnetic (AFM) properties and local magnetic moment in the Mn site of 3.86 μB per Mn. By doping F with x = 0.0625, the spin-up and spin-down Eg values decrease to 0.778 and 0.798 eV, respectively. This system, along with antiferromagnetic properties, also has a local magnetic moment in the Mn site of 3.83 μB per Mn. Increasing doping F to x = 0.125 induces increases of Eg to 0.827 and 0.839 eV for spin-up and spin-down. However, the AFM remains, where μMn slightly decreases to 3.81 μB per Mn. Furthermore, the excess electron from the F ion induces the Fermi level to move toward the conduction band and changes the bandgap type from indirect bandgap (Γ → M) to direct bandgap (Γ → Γ). Increasing x to 25% induces the decrease of spin-up and spin-down Eg to 0.488 and 0.465 eV, respectively. This system shows that the AFM changes to ferrimagnetism (FIM) for x = 25%, with a total magnetic moment of 0.78 μB per cell, which is mostly contributed by Mn 3d and As 4p local magnetic moments. The change from AFM to FIM behavior results from competition between superexchange AFM ordering and Stoner's exchange ferromagnetic ordering. Pristine (LaO)MnAs exhibits high excitonic binding energy (∼146.5 meV) due to a flat band structure. Our study shows that doping F in the (LaO)MnAs system significantly modifies the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties for novel advanced device applications.
(LaO)MnAs is one of the manganese-based layered oxypnictides, formed by La–O blocking layers and Mn–As layers stacked alternately along the c-axis. Arsenic ions are surrounded tetrahedrally by Mn, and La ions are surrounded by O. (LaO)MnAs exhibits negative giant magnetoresistance of up to −24% at 200 K.11 (LaO)MnAs is an antiferromagnetic semiconductor with high Néel temperature (317 K TN),11,12 and the antiferromagnetic semiconductor is seen as a promising material for spintronic devices because it has a higher magnetic ordering temperature than diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs). This suggestion is indicated by the high temperature.13,14 (LaO)MnAs also exhibits Mott insulator behavior15,16 due to the superexchange interaction between Mn and As ions,12 making this material interesting to study and develop.
Experimental research has reported the indirect bandgap value (∼1.4 eV) for (LaO)MnAs.17 A theoretical study reports an indirect bandgap of 0.46 eV and a magnetic moment of 3.54 μB per Mn cell from calculations based on density functional theory using generalized gradient approximation (GGA).18
Various doping approaches have been performed to modify the properties of the (LaO)MnAs system. A study in physical properties of the (LaO)MnAs layer due to F and Zn doping in the form of polycrystals grown by solid-state reaction method showed a clear increase in the lattice constants (a and c) for F doping. Increasing doping F in (LaO)MnAs decreases the absolute value of electrical resistivity dramatically (0–300 K), with a phase change from antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic properties. However, Zn substitution does not show apparent dependence on the resistivity.16 On the other hand, hole doping also changes the electronic properties of this system,19 and doping holes into [LaO] layers changes the antiferromagnetic insulating to ferromagnetic metallic behavior at room temperature (RT). The doping was performed by inducing defects in [LaO] layers. Achieving x = 0.3, the (LaO)1−xMnAs system exhibits metallic behavior for T < 150 K.20
In a previous work, we investigated the electronic and magnetic properties of the (LaO)MnAs system, again using a GGA functional, with Hubbard energy (U) applied for the Mn 3d orbital of 0–10 eV. The term U is significant in changing the structural properties, Eg, and magnetic moment of the Mn ion. Our calculation shows that the Eg of the system increases with the U value, with the maximum value at U = 8 eV, which is the closest Eg to the experimental result17 but shows an overestimated lattice parameter. In considering the structural properties, the value of U = 1 eV is the most appropriate, which leads to Eg and μMn of 0.834 eV and 4.31 μB. Increasing U induces increased local-symmetry distortions in MnAs4 and OLa4.21
In this paper, we study the structural, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of layered manganese-based (LaO)MnAs, with doping F− ions at the O2− site. This system was calculated by first principles based on the density functional theory (DFT). We studied (LaO1−xFx)MnAs, where x = 0, 0.0625, 0.125, and 0.25. The structural parameters are systematically reported. The electronic properties are discussed in terms of band structure, and magnetic properties are discussed in terms of density of states (DOS). Energy-dependent total and projected DOS were revealed to find the electronic properties of each orbital. Finally, the dielectric function is also calculated to reveal its optical properties, which are yet to be explored.
As the host material, (LaO)MnAs has a tetragonal crystal structure with the centrosymmetric space group P4/nmm. From the experimental result, we use the initial structural parameters a = b = 4122 Å and c = 9048 Å.12 For the self-consistence-field (SCF) calculation, we set the threshold energy of 10−3 hartree (∼2.72 × 10−3 eV), cut-off kinetic energy at 50 Rydberg (∼680 eV), and k-point mesh of 8 × 8 × 4 (x = 0) and 5 × 5 × 4 (x = 0.0625, 0.125, and 0.25). We use the on-site Coulomb repulsion energy (U)25 in the Mn 3d orbital with U = 1 eV, which is the most appropriate value considering the structural properties.21 For band calculation, we calculated within a k-point path of M–A–Z–Γ–X–M–Γ in the corresponding Brillouin zone, as in our previous work.21 Non-self-consistent-field (NSCF) calculation was performed to generate a spin-polarized total and projected DOS using the double k-point mesh of 16 × 16 × 8 (x = 0) and 10 × 10 × 8 (x = 0.0625, 0.125 and 0.25). The calculations of the dielectric tensor were carried out using density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) within random phase approximation (RPA) and independent particle approximation (IPA). Norm-conserving pseudopotentials from the SG15 database were used.
In order to predict the excitonic binding energy of all doped and pristine structures, the effective mass of the electron and hole was calculated using eqn (1) from the band structure curve. The electron effective mass and the hole effective mass were calculated from the specific band at the conduction band and valence band, respectively (depending on the optical transition of interest).
(1) |
The Wannier–Mott exciton binding energy was calculated using eqn (2),26
(2) |
The crystal structure was visualized with X-Crysden.27 We use different supercell structures for each x of (LaO1−xFx)MnAs as shown in Fig. 1. For x = 0, we calculate within the unit cell structure (1 × 1 × 1). Supercells 2 × 2 × 2, 2 × 2 × 1, and 1 × 1 × 2 were used for x = 0.0625, 0.125, and 0.25, respectively, where F− replaced one of the atoms at the O2− site.
Fig. 1 Crystal structure (LaO1−xFx)MnAs: (a) x = 0, (b) x = 0.0625 (supercell 2 × 2 × 2), (c) x = 0.125 (supercell 2 × 2 × 1), (d) x = 0.25 (supercell 1 × 1 × 2). |
Fig. 2 Band structure of (LaO1−xFx)MnAs system (single spin orientation, spin-up): (a) x = 0, (b) x = 0.0625, (c) x = 0.125, and (d) x = 0.25. |
Increasing the x value induces a change in bandgap type to a direct bandgap, from Γ at the VBM to Γ at the CBM for x = 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, with the band gap values of 0.778 and 0.798 eV, 0.827 and 0.839 eV, and 0.488 and 0.465 eV, for spin-up and spin-down, respectively (Fig. 2b–d). Increasing the number of F doping changes the bandgap value with an irregular trend. In the higher doping concentration, we find that setting the x value to 0.0625, 0.125, and 0.25 induces the valence band to move closer to the conduction band until it passes the Fermi energy, which shows us the n-type semiconductor and metallic behavior is found and indicated by band spreading upon the Fermi level. The indirect band gap behavior at x = 0 shows a minimum energy transfer from Γ to M point, preferably showing in-plane electronic transport behavior. The energy transition from other high-symmetry k-points shows that the electronic transport is not completely in-plane.
Fig. 3 (a, d, g and j) The density of states, showing the total DOS for each x value; (b, e, h and k) the projected DOS for [LaO]− layer; (c, f, i and l) the projected DOS for [MnAs]+ layer. |
To explain why high doping concentration (25%) exhibits net magnetization, we plot the pDOS of Mn d orbitals, shown in Fig. S1 (ESI†). In the pristine and lower doping concentration, the dyz and dxz orbitals are degenerate, as shown in the overlapping pDOS graph. In the 25% doping concentration, these orbitals' degeneracy is broken. This is due to a strong deviation in the Mn–As bond length (p and q compared to r and s, as shown in Table S1 (ESI†)), which is not exhibited in the lower doping concentration. Furthermore, there is a huge difference in Mn–As bond lengths in Mn1 and Mn2 in the 25% F-doped (LaO)MnAs. This causes different energy levels of d orbital in the Mn1 compared to Mn2 and thus gives a net magnetization. The Mn d orbital interacts with As p orbital, which is shown in Fig. S2 (ESI†), and thus the As p orbital also exhibits net magnetization.
To confirm that this net magnetization is not caused by a change in the oxidation state of Mn, as we can see from Fig. S1 (ESI†), there are still five unfilled d states above the Fermi level, even after high doping concentration, confirming that there is no change in the Mn oxidation state. This method is also used by Hutchison et al. to predict the oxidation state of Fe in Fe–N–C.32
From the DOS graph, we found the CBM for x = 0 located at approximately 0.28 eV. Increasing the x value leads the CBM to move closer to the valence band (x = 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25; the CBM moving to −0.11 eV, −0.11 eV, and −0.32 eV, respectively), as also shown in the band structure. In the valence band, the highest peak was found in the approximate range of −5 to −4 eV, and in the conduction band, the highest peak was located at ∼2 eV. Different values of each DOS are caused by different cell structures (number of atoms) used for each x value.
The projected DOS are presented in Fig. 3b, e, h and k for the [LaO]+ layer and in Fig. 3c, f, i and l for the [MnAs]− layer. In the layered LaO, we find that La 5d and O 2p states are deeply located in the valence band around −3 eV for all x values. With the deep separation between both states and the Fermi level (EF), electrons in [LaO]+ layers are difficult to excite to the conduction band. On the other hand, La 4f states are localized at 2.4 eV, indicating that the La 4f orbital is empty. For the approximate range from −6 to −3 eV, O 2p orbital dominates the valence band, while La 5d dominates the conduction band in the approximate range of −0.3 to 1 eV. A high peak from La 4f is shown at ∼2 eV, showing this orbital is responsible for the highest peak in the valence band that appears in the DOS. For x = 0.25, suborbital La 5d displays asymmetrical spin at ∼0.1 eV, contributing 0.169 μB per La to the total magnetization.
In the [MnAs]− layer, the result shows conduction bands dominated by Mn1 3d and Mn2 3d in the approximate range of −0.2 to 2 eV. In the valence band, Mn1 3d and Mn2 3d dominate the approximately −3 to 5.5 eV range, and the As 4p state spreads along with the valence band. Mn1 (red line) and Mn2 (blue line) represent opposite magnetic spin in AFM. Increasing x to 0.25 induces asymmetrical spin in Mn and As orbitals. The suborbital As 4p displays asymmetrical spin around the VBM area, which contributes 0.011 μB per cell to the total magnetization, and asymmetrical spin from Mn 3d contributes 0.367 μB per cell.
The decreasing trend for a and c is probably due to different ionic radii, where F− (1.33 Å) has a smaller ionic radius than O2− (1.4 Å).33 Thus, greater concentration of F− induces smaller values of the lattice constant. Different trends were reported in the experiment by Naito et al. (2014), where they found an increasing trend of lattice constant for x = 0–0.1 (step 0.05).16
Fig. 6 shows the calculated dielectric function of pristine and doped (LaO)MnAs. The dielectric function calculation shows metallic behavior of (LaO0.875F0.125)MnAs and (LaO0.75F0.25)MnAs, in agreement with the electronic structure calculation. The contribution of intraband transition is shown in the low-energy region, and the higher-energy region corresponds to interband transition. The plasmon frequency of (LaO0.875F0.125)MnAs is 1.88 × 10−4 cm−1 (E⊥c) and 3.45 × 10−4 cm−1 (E∥c), which can be described qualitatively using the Drude model; higher electron effective mass in k∥c corresponds to a smaller frequency if E∥c, which can be simply seen from the band structure. These plasmonic peaks are also shown in the low-energy region in the electronic energy loss function shown in Fig. 7. Due to doping, the intraband peaks are blueshifted to the higher energy region, in line with the conclusion from electronic structure calculation that the Fermi level position shifted more to the conduction band after electron doping.
Fig. 7 Calculated electron energy loss function (LF) of (a) pristine (LaO)MnAs, (b) (LaO0.875F0.125)MnAs, and (c) (LaO0.75F0.25)MnAs. |
The interband transition exhibits a similar profile compared to the pristine one. Several peaks are redshifted to the lower energy region, which is in line with the smaller band gap conclusion from the electronic structure calculation. From the dielectric function, we can obtain its absorption coefficient, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and the optical conductivity, which shows a similar profile to its dielectric function, shown in Fig. S3 (ESI†).
To investigate the interband transition profile of the doped compound, we also calculate the momentum matrix elements (P2) of all structures, which is shown in Fig. S4 (ESI†). Different values of P2 occur due to the different numbers of atoms in one unit cell in every doped compound; therefore, these values cannot be compared directly.36 The momentum matrix elements can determine the selection rule of dipolar optical transition. P2 exhibits nearly isotropic behavior in all k-points, indicating no symmetry-forbidden transition in all k-points, enhancing its optical properties. To explain the anisotropy, take a look at several special k-points, for example, the Z → Γ points belonging to the C2v point group and Γ → X points belonging to the Cs point group. In these point groups, the momentum operators in x, y, and z have different symmetry species; therefore, there is an anisotropy in these momentum matrix elements and also an anisotropy in the dielectric function curve.
Footnote |
† Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ra01506h |
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