Perfect spin-filtering and switching functions in zigzag silicene nanoribbons with hydrogen modification

Abstract

Abstract Using the non-equilibrium Green's function method in combination with the spin-polarized density functional theory, we investigate the spin-dependent electronic and transport properties of hydrogen adsorbed zigzag silicene nanoribbons (ZSiNRs). Our results show that the hydrogen adsorption can make the ground spin state of pristine ZSiNRs changes from antiferromagnetic state to ferromagnetic state, meanwhile it can effectively tune the spin-dependent electronic structure, making it changes from spin-degenerated semiconductor to spin-splitting metal or half-metal, which is dependent on the adsorption sites. The spin transport property research indicates that the central sites hydrogen adsorbed ZSiNRs device have a perfect spin-filtering effect. More importantly, the dehydrogenation is found to introduce a high on/off ratio.