DEFECT FORMATION AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF COPPER DOPED ZnO NANOWIRES

Abstract

Theoretical calculation based on density functional theory (DFT) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) has been carried out in studying defect formation energies, ionization energies and magnetic properties of copper doped ZnO nanowires (NW). It is found from formation energy calculation that n-type Cu-doped ZnO NW is non-FM and p-type Cu-doped ZnO NW could be FM. The results show that total energies of FM coupling are lower than those of AFM coupling for majority of 12 configurations, indicating that the FM coupling between Cu atoms is more stable than AFM coupling. The FM stability is interpreted by Cu 3d energy level coupling. In addition, zinc and oxygen vacancies affecting FM coupling is also discussed. It is found that FM coupling can be tuned by zinc and oxygen vacancies.