Ferromagnetic instability of interlayer floating electrons in quasi-two-dimensional electride Y$_2$C

Abstract

Ab initio electronic structure calculations show that the recently identified quasi-two-dimensional electride Y$_2$C is a weak itinerant ferromagnet or at least close to a ferromagnetic instability. The ferromagnetism is induced by the electride electrons, which are loosely bound around interstitial sites and overlap with each other to form two-dimensional interlayer conduction bands. The semimetallicity and two-dimensionality of the band structure are the key to understanding this ferromagnetic instability.