Engineering magnetism in semiconductors

Transition metal doped III-V, II-VI, and group IV compounds offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore ferromagnetism in semiconductors. Because ferromagnetic spin-spin interactions are mediated by holes in the valence band, changing the Fermi level using co-doping, electric fields, or light can directly manipulate the magnetic ordering. Moreover, engineering the Fermi level position by co-doping makes it possible to modify solubility and self-compensation limits, affecting magnetic characteristics in a number of surprising ways. The Fermi energy can even control the aggregation of magnetic ions, providing a new route to self-organization of magnetic nanostructures in a semiconductor host.