Electromechanical and magnetic response in zigzag phosphorene nanoribbons

We investigate the electromechanical and magnetic response of normal-zigzag phosphorene nanoribbons (nZPNRs) to the Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and Rashba SOC, electric fields, exchange fields, and uniaxial strains. It is found that, when the typical exchange fields, developed by combining a ferromagnetic (FM) state with one of the antiferromagnetic (AFM) states, are applied to the system, spin and charge band splitting occur, simultaneously. We show that a zigzag phosphorene nanoribbon, when exposed to an FM and/or an AFM exchange field, as well as a transverse electric field, behaves as a half-metal, meaning that one spin state electrons are allowed to move. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the phosphorene nanoribbon undergoes a topological phase transition under a transverse electric field. By tuning the above parameters, one can control the transport properties of the system. Our results may have important applications in designing of spintronic devices based on phosphorene.