Half-metallic ferromagnetism in (CrN)1/(GaN)1 (001) and (VN)1/(InN)1 (001) superlattices

Density functional theory calculations are performed to study the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of zinc blende (CrN)1/(GaN)1 and (VN)1/(InN)1 superlattice in the (001) direction. Results show that (CrN)1/(GaN)1 and (VN)1/(InN)1 superlattice are half-metallic ferromagnets, with respectively a total magnetic moment of 6 μB and 4 μB. We also show that ferromagnetism comes essentially from the d orbitals of the Cr and V atoms, and the half metallic character is the fingerprint of the p-d hybridization of N and Cr(V) atoms.