Penta-AgN<sub>8</sub> Monolayer: Flat Bands Driving Magnetic and Topological Transitions from Real Chern Insulator to Double-Weyl Metal

Inspired by the rich physics of honeycomb-kagome (HK) lattices and flat-band magnetism, we predict a stable two-dimensional (2D) penta-AgN<sub>8</sub> monolayer through comprehensive tight-binding (TB) model analysis and first-principles calculations. This novel material integrates pentagonal AgN<sub>4</sub> building blocks into an effective HK superstructure, exhibiting a unique planar hexagonal geometry with hypercoordinated Ag atoms. We demonstrate that penta-AgN<sub>8</sub> is intrinsically a bipolar magnetic semiconductor (BMS) and, more notably, a magnetic real Chern insulator (MRCI) protected by <i>C</i><sub>2<i>z</i></sub><i>T</i> symmetry, featuring spin-polarized flat bands near the Fermi level, intrinsic in-plane ferromagnetic ordering, and observable corner states. A key finding is the exceptional strain-tunability of these flat bands, which allows for precise engineering of its electronic and topological properties. Under biaxial strain, penta-AgN<sub>8</sub> undergoes transitions from a BMS to a half-semiconductor (HSC) and subsequently to a half-metal (HM). Concurrently, its topological properties evolve transition from an MRCI to a double-Weyl metal phase, featuring quadratically dispersing Weyl points characterized by a Chern number of |<i>C</i>| = 1. The predicted thermodynamic, dynamic, mechanical, and thermal stability, combined with advances in synthesizing nitrogen chains and metal nitrides, suggests high feasibility for experimental realization. This work not only introduces a new member to the penta-structured 2D material family with unprecedented planar Ag hypercoordination but also offers a versatile platform for developing multifunctional spintronic devices leveraging strain-modulated topological states.

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Publication Details

Journal
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Published
2025-08-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.5c01818
Primary Topic
Topological Materials and Phenomena
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Penta-AgN8 Monolayer: Flat Bands Driving Magnetic and Topological Transitions from Real Chern Insulator to Double-Weyl Metal

Yu Liu, Xiaoping Li, Fengyu Li, Zhongfang Chen et al.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Topological Materials and Phenomena
article

Penta-AgN8 Monolayer: Flat Bands Driving Magnetic and Topological Transitions from Real Chern Insulator to Double-Weyl Metal

Yu Liu, Xiaoping Li, Fengyu Li, Zhongfang Chen, Lei Wang, Rong Liu
article en

Abstract

Inspired by the rich physics of honeycomb-kagome (HK) lattices and flat-band magnetism, we predict a stable two-dimensional (2D) penta-AgN<sub>8</sub> monolayer through comprehensive tight-binding (TB) model analysis and first-principles calculations. This novel material integrates pentagonal AgN<sub>4</sub> building blocks into an effective HK superstructure, exhibiting a unique planar hexagonal geometry with hypercoordinated Ag atoms. We demonstrate that penta-AgN<sub>8</sub> is intrinsically a bipolar magnetic semiconductor (BMS) and, more notably, a magnetic real Chern insulator (MRCI) protected by <i>C</i><sub>2<i>z</i></sub><i>T</i> symmetry, featuring spin-polarized flat bands near the Fermi level, intrinsic in-plane ferromagnetic ordering, and observable corner states. A key finding is the exceptional strain-tunability of these flat bands, which allows for precise engineering of its electronic and topological properties. Under biaxial strain, penta-AgN<sub>8</sub> undergoes transitions from a BMS to a half-semiconductor (HSC) and subsequently to a half-metal (HM). Concurrently, its topological properties evolve transition from an MRCI to a double-Weyl metal phase, featuring quadratically dispersing Weyl points characterized by a Chern number of |<i>C</i>| = 1. The predicted thermodynamic, dynamic, mechanical, and thermal stability, combined with advances in synthesizing nitrogen chains and metal nitrides, suggests high feasibility for experimental realization. This work not only introduces a new member to the penta-structured 2D material family with unprecedented planar Ag hypercoordination but also offers a versatile platform for developing multifunctional spintronic devices leveraging strain-modulated topological states.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry LettersVol. 16(34)
Inner Mongolia Agricultural University (CN), University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras (PR), Inner Mongolia University (CN), Quantum Technologies (Sweden) (SE), Inner Mongolia University of Technology (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Inner Mongolia University
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Topological Materials and Phenomena
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