Unusual electronic and magnetic properties of lateral phosphorene–WSe2 heterostructures

Abstract

The unusual electronic and magnetic properties of in-plane phosphorene/WSe₂ heterostructures are theoretically investigated. Due to strong spin–orbit-coupling (SOC), a giant magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy with an easy out-of-plane magnetization is realized in the lateral phosphorene/WSe₂ heterostructures. The heterostructures can be either half-metallic or metallic dependent on their edges and sizes. In light of these results, it is expected that in-plane heterostructures of phosphorene/graphene will provide abundant opportunities for applications in spintronic and electronic devices.