Magnetization of beryllium oxide in the presence of nonmagnetic impurities: Boron, carbon, and nitrogen

The electronic and magnetic states of a nonmagnetic insulator, namely, beryllium oxide, doped with nonmagnetic 2p elements (boron, carbon, and nitrogen) are studied using the density functional theory. The spin polarization of the 2p impurity states, as well as the transition of the doped BeO:(B,C,N) systems to the states of semiconducting or half-metallic magnets, is observed. The prospects for creating new magnetic materials by doping nonmagnetic insulators with nonmagnetic p impurities are discussed.