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

Abstract

We report the discovery of a diluted magnetic semiconductor, Li(Zn,Mn)P, in which charge and spin are introduced independently via lithium off-stoichiometry and the isovalent substitution of Mn${}^{2+}$ for Zn${}^{2+}$, 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 with Curie temperature up to 34 K is achieved while the system still shows semiconducting transport behavior.