Ab initio calculations of magnetic properties of Ag-doped GaN

► Silver can exhibit ferromagnetic order in the GaN host semiconductor. ► FM state originates from the hybridized Ag (4d)-N (2p)-Ga (3d)-N (2p) chain formed through p-d coupling. ► The magnetic behavior is different from the ones reported on TM based DMS. ► 4d transition metals, such as, silver may also be used as ferromagnetic dopants in semiconductors.