On the possibility of zigzag and armchair silicon nanoribbons having the graphene structure

The possibility of stable two dimensional armchair and zigzag silicon nanoribbons having the same structure as graphene is examined using Density Functional Theory (DFT). The calculations predict that armchair Si ribbons, but not zigzag ribbons, are stable two dimensional structures. The electronic and magnetic properties of undoped and hole and electron doped armchair Si ribbons are calculated. It is predicted that electron and hole doped Si armchair ribbons have the potential to be ferromagnetic semiconductors. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.