Ferromagnetic semiconductors in extended lanthanide wires

Abstract

Exploring one-dimensional (1D) ferromagnetic chains with high magnetic transition temperatures and robust spin polarization is crucial for the development of next-generation spintronic devices. Here we demonstrate a bottom-up approach to the design and assembly of a 1D ferromagnetic chain based on the magic sandwich cluster Ho2B8. The stability of Ho2B8 is rationalized by the large HOMO-LUMO gap (2.02 eV) and double σ+π aromaticity. Our results show that the 1D linear chain is an attractive ferromagnetic semiconductor with the valence band fully spin-polarized. Long-range ferromagnetic order with a 5 μB magnetization on each Ho atom retains up to 86 K. Furthermore, the 1D linear chain exhibits a sizable magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) more than 30 meV/atom, indicating a sufficient energy barrier to suppress the spin fluctuations. The current findings suggest that the magnetic lanthanide chain (Ho2B8)n is a prospective candidate for the next-generation spintronic device.