Functionalisation of hexagonal boron phosphide (h-BP) monolayer via atomic adsorption

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this study, we investigate the adsorption properties of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, In, Tl, Ar atoms on hexagonal boron phosphide monolayer (h-BP) using density functional theory within both GGA and LDA functionals. Bare h-BP is a direct gap semiconductor with planar structure. The adsorption of the atoms on h-BP exhibits a large variety of electronic properties like semiconducting, metallic, and half-metallic states. Fe- and Ni-adsorbed h-BPs show semiconducting character with decreased band gaps. Ni atom is strongly adsorbed on the surface giving largest adsorption energy observed in this work. Fe-adsorbed system is a semiconducting ferromagnet with 1.95 magnetic moment. Co adsorption results in a half-metallic behaviour with 1.00 net magnetic moment and a perfect spin polarisation at Fermi level. Cu, In, and Tl adsorbed h-BP systems show metallic character. The results obtained show that h-BP surface can be functionalised via adsorption of related single atoms and can be suitable for various applications in optoelectronics and spintronics.