First-principles study on nonlocal ferromagnetism in (Cu, N)-codoped ZnO

First-principles calculations based on spin density functional theory are performed to study the spin-resolved electronic properties of ZnO codoped with Cu and N. (Cu, N)-codoped ZnO exhibits magnetism, and the total magnetic moment mainly originates from the p-d hybridization of Cu-N and Cu-O as well as p-p coupling interaction between N and O at the Fermi level. The Zn₃₄Cu₂O₃₅N₁ favors energetically a ferromagnetic ground state due to the existence of stable Cu-N-Cu complex. These results imply that the (Cu, N)-codoped ZnO is a promising dilute magnetic semiconductor free of magnetic precipitates, which could broaden the horizon of currently known magnetic systems.