Electronic structures and magnetic couplings of B-, C-, and N-doped BeO

The electronic structures and magnetic properties of B-, C-, and N-doped BeO supercells are investigated by means of ab initio calculations using density functional theory. The magnetic exchange constants of C-doped BeO at different doping levels are also calculated. A phenomenological band structure model based on p–d exchange-like p–p level repulsion between the dopants is proposed to explain the magnetic ground states in B-, C-, and N-doped BeO systems. The evolution from the antiferromagnetic phase to the ferromagnetic phase of C-doped BeO supercell with C concentration decreasing can also be well explained using this model. The findings in this study provide a simple guide for the design of band structure for a magnetic sp-electron semiconductor. (condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties)