Effect of V{sub Zn}/V{sub O} on Stability, Magnetism, and Electronic Characteristic of Oxygen Ions for Li-Doped ZnO
The effects of Zn/O vacancy (V{sub Zn}/V{sub O}) and different proportions of Li/V{sub Zn} on the magnetism of Li-doped ZnO are analyzed through first-principle calculation by using generalized gradient approximation+ U (GGA + U) under density functional theory. Results reveal that Li-doped ZnO with V{sub Zn} can realize ferromagnetic long-range order and has a Curie temperature above room temperature. Under different proportions of Li/V{sub Zn} (i.e., 1:1, 1:2, and 2:2) in ZnO (2 × 2 × 4), the doping system containing 2Li/2V{sub Zn} (Zn{sub 28}Li{sub 2}O{sub 32}) shows the greatest magnetic moment and the smallest differential charge density. These characteristics pave the way for enhancing the magnetic properties of dilute magnetic semiconductors. The oxygen atoms in Zn{sub 28}Li{sub 2}O{sub 32} show acceptor and donor characteristics and exist in the forms of itinerant electrons (O{sup 1−}) and local electrons (O{sup 2−}), which have different effects on Zn{sub 28}Li{sub 2}O{sub 32} magnetism. The spin-polarization double-exchange effect among the unpaired itinerant electron (O{sup 1−}) orbit, local electron (O{sup 2−}) orbit, and unpaired Zn-3d electron orbit is the origin of magnetism for Li-doped ZnO with V{sub Zn}. By contrast, the doping systems of Li-doped ZnO with V{sub O} are nonmagnetic, rendering such systems inapplicable.