Magnetic properties of ZnS doped with noble metals (X = Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag)

Density functional theory calculations are carried out to study the electronic structures and magnetic properties in zinc-blende structure ZnS doped with nonmagnetic noble metals (X = Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag). Results show robust magnetic ground states for X-doped ZnS. The total magnetic moments are about 2.0, 3.0, and 2.0 μB per supercell for the Ru-, Rh-, and Pd-doped ZnS, respectively. As the atomic number of X element increases, the local magnetic moment tends toward delocalize and the hybridization between X-4d and S-3p states become stronger. This trend is strongly related to the difference in electronegativity between the substitutional X and the cation in the ZnS host. For Ag-doped ZnS, both non-spin- and spin-polarized calculations yield nearly equal total energy. The substitution of Zn in ZnS parent material by the nonmagnetic 4d transition-metals may lead to half-metallic ferromagnetism which stems from the hybridization between X-4d and S-3p states and could be attributed to a double-exchange mecha...