An antiferromagnetic semiconducting FeCN monolayer with a large magnetic anisotropy and strong magnetic coupling.

Two-dimensional antiferromagnetic (AFM) materials with an intrinsic semiconductivity, a high critical temperature, and a sizable magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) have attracted extensive attention because they show promise for high-performance spintronic nanodevices. Here, we have identified a new FeCN monolayer with a unique zigzag Fe chain through first-principles swarm structural search calculations. It is an AFM semiconductor with a direct band gap of 2.04 eV, a Néel temperature () of 176 K, and a large in-plane MAE of 0.50 meV per Fe atom. More interestingly, the intrinsic antiferromagnetism, contributed by the strong magnetic coupling of neighbouring Fe ions, can be maintained under the external biaxial strains. A large cohesive energy and high dynamical stability favor synthesis and application. Therefore, these fascinating properties of the FeCN monolayer make it a promising nanoscale spintronic material.