Vacancy-induced semi-metallicity in the prototype Mott-insulating substances MnO and NiO was reported. By embedding a cation vacancy into a magnetic system, the possibility of constructing semi-metallic antiferromagnets arose. In the case of Ni0.97O, a semi-metallic antiferromagnet was obtained. This had previously been proposed only for complicated crystal structures.

Vacancy-Induced Half-Metallicity in MnO and NiO. D.Ködderitzsch, W.Hergert, Z.Szotek, W.M.Temmerman: Physical Review B, 2003, 68[12], 125114 (5pp)