Experimental observation of defect-induced intrinsic ferromagnetism in III-V nitrides: The case of BN

We report the synthesis and magnetic properties characterizations of defective BN obtained from a modified solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the presence of two crystalline phases of BN in products. No magnetic impurities, such as Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni were detected by chemical analysis. Transmission electron microscopy observation and photoluminescence spectrum measurement showed the existence of large-scale defects in BN lattices. Magnetic measurement undoubtedly demonstrated the typical ferromagnetic order was established in undoped BN. We consider that the many kinds of defects should be responsible for the long-range magnetic order in the sp material of defective BN.