Strong
Facet-Induced and Light-Controlled Room-Temperature
Ferromagnetism in Semiconducting β‑FeSi<sub>2</sub> Nanocubes
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Abstract
Crystalline
β-FeSi<sub>2</sub> nanocubes with two {100} facets
and four {011} lateral facets synthesized by spontaneous one-step
chemical vapor deposition exhibit strong room-temperature ferromagnetism
with saturation magnetization of 15 emu/g. The room-temperature ferromagnetism
is observed from the β-FeSi<sub>2</sub> nanocubes larger than
150 nm with both the {100} and {011} facets. The ferromagnetism is
tentatively explained with a simplified model including both the itinerant
electrons in surface states and the local moments on Fe atoms near
the surfaces. The work demonstrates the transformation from a nonmagnetic
semiconductor to a magnetic one by exposing specific facets and the
room-temperature ferromagnetism can be manipulated under light irradiation.
The semiconducting β-FeSi<sub>2</sub> nanocubes may have large
potential in silicon-based spintronic applications