Effect of Intrinsic Point Defect on the Magnetic Properties of ZnO Nanowire

The effect of intrinsic point defect on the magnetic properties of ZnO nanowire is investigated by the first-principles calculation based on the density functional theory (DFT). The calculated results reveal that the pure ZnO nanowire without intrinsic point defect is nonmagnetic and ZnO nanowire with V(O), Zn(i), O(i), O(Zn), or Zn(O) point defect also is nonmagnetic. However, a strong spin splitting phenomenon is observed in ZnO nanowire with V(Zn) defect sitting on the surface site. The Mulliken population analysis reveals that the oxygen atoms which are close to the V(Zn) defect do major contribution to the magnetic moment. Partial density states calculation further suggests that the appearance of the half-metallic ferromagnetism in ZnO nanorod with V(Zn) originates from the hybridization of the O2p states with Zn 3d states.