Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 June 2011
The so-called “d0” magnetism observed in semiconductors, which is not caused by partially filled d orbitals, has challenged our conventional understanding on the origin of magnetism. One class of semiconductor materials showing d0 ferromagnetism is undoped oxides and nitrides. Here, we review the ferromagnetic properties of undoped GaN and MgO based on our recent investigations. It is revealed that the room-temperature ferromagnetism originates from the anion dangling bonds associated with the surface cation-vacancies. And the magnetism of ferromagnetic coupling between the vacancy induced local magnetic moment by through-bond spin polarization in undoped semiconductors is reviewed according to our works.