Tuning the electronic and magnetic properties of MoS2 bilayers by transition-metal intercalation

Two dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides and their heterostructures are important materials for future electronic device applications. By using the first-principles calculations we investigate how the electronic and magnetic properties of MoS2 bilayer is modified by intercalating transition-metals (Fe, Co, and Ni). The Fe-intercalated MoS2 bilayer is found to be a non-magnetic gapless semimetal. Without spin-orbit coupling it has the Dirac state on the Gamma-M line in k space at the Fermi level. The spin degeneracy of the Dirac state is removed by spin-orbit coupling. However, the bottom of the conduction band and the top of the valence band are in contact with the Fermi level making the system a non-magnetic gapless semimetal. The Dirac state is also observed in both Co-intercalated and Ni-intercalated MoS2 bilayers because they have the same symmetry in crystal structure as the Fe-intercalated MoS2 bilayer. The difference in the number of valence electrons in the intercalated atoms drastically change the electronic and magnetic properties. The Co-intercalated MoS2 bilayer is a ferromagnetic metal, where the Dirac state is below the Fermi level. The Ni-intercalated MoS2 bilayer is a non-magnetic narrow gap semiconductor, where the Dirac state is far below the Fermi level. The results revealed the electronic and magnetic properties of the transition-metal-intercalated MoS2 bilayers and will be useful for designing a variety of 2D materials.