Spin splitting and electric field modulated electron-hole pockets in antimonene nanoribbons

Abstract

The one-dimensional nanoribbons have great potential applications in novel multifunctional electronic devices. Herewith, we investigate the electronic structure of antimonene nanoribbons using the first-principles calculations. Four ribbon models are considered. All of them are semiconductors with appropriate band gaps. Because of the loss of inversion symmetry, spin-orbit splitting appears in the asymmetric washboard nanoribbons. Significantly, spin splittings of 62 and 44 meV are found at the valence band maximum and conduction band minimum for zigzag asymmetric washboard nanoribbon (aW-zSbNR). Further applying an in-plane electric field introduces a potential difference between the two zigzag edges. The energies for the localized edge states are modified. Eventually spin-orbit-coupling induced band inversion and electron-hole pockets with appropriately the same size could be triggered in a W-zSbNR, which is interesting for exploiting the magnetoresistance effect.