Abstract
Electronic structures and transport in armchair PtS2 nanoribbons are studied based on the density functional theory. Bare nanoribbons are magnetic metal with strong negative differential resistance (NDR). In an environment of low hydrogen concentration, the nanoribbons convert to the magnetic semiconductor. The conductance becomes negligible under a bias below 1 V due to the mismatch of wave functions between edge and bulk states. However, a transition from magnetic semiconductor to nonmagnetic metal can occur if a strain of 7% is applied. The stretched nanoribbons then become conductive again with an even stronger NDR. The hydrogen concentration can be used to further modulate the energy gap, the edge magnetism, and conductivity by varying the adsorbed H atoms on the edge. Our study highlights the potential of armchair PtS2 nanoribbons for spintronic nanodevices controlled by both strain and hydrogenation.
