Tunable Spin-Dependent Properties of Zigzag Silicene Nanoribbons

Abstract

Silicene nanoribbons are quasi-one-dimensional layered honeycomb lattices, analogous to graphene but composed of silicon. Researchers here present first-principles calculations for silicene nanoribbon structures folded out of plane in a zig-zag. These calculations show that although these systems are similar to graphene nanoribbons, they also feature enhanced spin-orbit interaction effects, a width-dependent antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic transition, and other characteristics of potential importance to spintronics applications.