Suppression of Jahn-Teller distortion by chromium and magnesium doping in spinel LiMn2O4: A first-principles study using GGA and GGA+U

The effect of doping spinel LiMn₂O₄ with chromium and magnesium has been studied using the first-principles spin density functional theory (DFT) within generalized gradient approximation (GGA ) and GGA+U. We find that GGA and GGA+U give different ground states for pristine LiMn₂O₄ and same ground state for doped systems. For LiMn₂O₄, the body-centered tetragonal phase was found to be the ground-state structure using GGA and face-centered orthorhombic using GGA+U, while for LiM_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (MCr or Mg) it was base-centered monoclinic and for LiMMnO₄ (MCr or Mg) it was body-centered orthorhombic in both GGA and GGA+U. We find that GGA predicts the pristine LiMn₂O₄ to be metallic while GGA+U predicts it to be insulating, which is in accordance with the experimental observations. For doped spinels, GGA predicts the ground state to be half metallic while GGA+U predicts it to be insulating or metallic depending on the doping concentration. GGA+U predicts insulator-metal-insulator transition as a function of doping in case of Cr and in case of Mg the ground state is found to go from insulating to a half metallic state as a function of doping. Analysis of the charge density and the density of states (DOS) suggest a charge transfer from the dopants to the neighboring oxygen atoms and manganese atoms. We have calculated the Jahn-Teller active mode displacement Q₃ for doped compounds using GGA and GGA+U. The bond lengths calculated from GGA+U are found to be in better agreement with experimental bond lengths. Based on the bond lengths of metal and oxygen, we have also estimated the average oxidation states of the dopants.     

Structure, electronic and magnetic properties of Ca-doped chromium oxide studied by the DFT method

Using first-principles density functional theory calculations within the generalised gradient approximation (GGA) as well as GGA+U method we study Ca-doped α-Cr₂O₃ crystal. Structural, electronic and magnetic properties due to the singular impurity incorporation have been investigated and discussed in detail. Atomic shifts as well as computed Bader charges on atoms imply the importance of ionic nature in the atomic interactions in chromium oxide. The study improves our knowledge on how the crystalline lattice reacts on the presence of a Ca dopant. According to our research it is found that Ca impurity incorporation produces some local changes upon the electronic band structure of the material without occurrence of local states within the band-gap. It is found that Ca incorporation produces change in magnetic behaviour of the crystal: it becomes ferromagnetic.     

Phase stability,electronic, magnetic and elastic properties of Ni2CoZ(Z = Ga,Sn): A first principles study with GGA method and GGA+U approach

First principles calculations based on density functional theory are used to investigate the phase stability, electronic, magnetic and elastic properties of ferromagnetic metallic full-Heusler Ni₂CoZ(Z = Ga, Sn) alloys via the FP-LAPW method by the generalized gradient GGA and GGA+U approximations for the exchange and correlation energy, within the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE 96) parameterization. The results of calculating electronic structures and magnetic properties reveal that the both Ni₂CoGa and Ni₂CoSn crystallize in L2₁ phase with regular cubic structure. The two investigated compounds exhibit metallic ferromagnetic behaviors for the GGA+U calculation. The computation of elastic constants with GGA+U approach shows that our compounds are mechanically stable.     

Ferromagnetic Half-Semiconductor (HSC) gaps in co-doped CdS: Ab-initio study

In this work we have used the density functional theory (DFT) to study structural, magnetic and electronic properties of Co doped CdS in the zinc-blende (ZB) phase. Three approximations have been used to treat the exchange-correlation potential: the (PBE) GGA, (PBE) GGA+U and the model of Tran–Blaha modified Becke–Johnson potential (TB-mBJ). The on–site Coulomb interaction correction given by the Hubbard U has been calculated by the local density approximation constraint for the Co electronic orbitals. The theoretical results show that all the properties under study are affected by the doping of Co atom. Co doped CdS becomes a Ferromagnetic Half-Semiconductors (HSC). The total magnetic moment increases with increasing Co concentration; reaching the value of 9 (in the units of Bohr magneton) at high concentration (x = 18.75 %). The total magnetic moment value is an integer in the GGA+U and TB-mBJ approximations. Furthermore, to validate the effects resulting from the exchange splitting process, we have calculated the values of the spin-exchange constants N_0α and N_0β, respectively. All these changes make CdS:Co extremely interesting system for the spintronic applications.     

The effect of 4d states based full Heusler alloy on the electronic and magnetic properties of new half metallic ferromagnetism: DFT+U study

A full heusler alloy Ru₂MoSb is studied using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method based on density functional theory (DFT). Structural, electronic and magnetic properties are investigated for this material. We have used the generalized gradient approximation of Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerh (GGA-PBE), the GGA+U and the modified Becke–Johnson potential of GGA+U (mBJ-GGA+U) to model exchange correlation potential. The Hubbard on-site Coulomb interaction correction U is calculated by constraint local density approximation for both 4d elements Ru and Mo.For both approximations GGA+U and mBJ- GGA+U, density of states and band structure reveal that our compound has a half-metallic character. Magnetic properties show that Ru₂MoSb is ferromagnetic with an integer magnetic moment of 3 µB which is in good agreement with the Slater–Pauling rule. The half-metallicity of Ru₂MoSb is stable under lattice constant changes which makes it a potential contender for spintronic applications.The negative values of the cohesion energy and the formation energy indicate that our Heusler alloy can be synthesized and stabilized experimentally.     

Electronic and magnetic properties of Mn-doped ZnO: Total-energy calculations

Based on the spin generalized gradient approximation (σGGA) of the density functional theory (DFT), the structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of Mn-doped ZnO structure have thoroughly been investigated. It is found that the Mn atom prefers to substitute one of the Zn atoms, producing the energetically most stable configuration for the Mn-doped ZnO structure. Employing the Hubbard potential within the calculations suggests various changes and modifications to the structural, magnetic and electronic properties of the Mn-doped ZnO. Our calculations reveal that the local magnetic moment at the Mn site using the ordinary σGGA functional is 4.84 μ_B/Mn, which is smaller than that evaluated by including the Hubbard potential of 5.04 μ_B/Mn. Overall, the electronic band structure of the system, within the σGGA+U, is half-metallic, with metallic nature for the majority state and semiconducting nature for the minority state. Simulated scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images for both unoccupied and occupied states indicate siginficant brightness on both Zn and Mn atoms and much brighter protrusions around the O atoms, respectively.     

A comparative study of a Heusler alloy Co2FeGe using LSDA and LSDA+U

We have calculated the on-site Coulomb repulsion (U) for the transition elements Co and Fe. To study the impact of Hubbard potential or on-site Coulomb repulsion (U) on structural and electronic properties the calculated values of U were added on GGA and LSDA. We performed the structure optimization of Co₂FeGe based on the generalized gradient approximation (GGA and GGA+U). The calculation of electronic structure was based on the full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method and local spin density approximation (LSDA) as well as exchange correlation LSDA+U. The Heusler alloy Co₂FeGe fails to give the half-metallic ferromagnetism (HMF) when treated with LSDA. The LSDA+U gives a good result to prove that Co₂FeGe is a HMF with a large gap of 1.10 eV and the Fermi energy (E_F) lies at the middle of the gap of minority spin. The calculated density of states (DOS) and band structure show that Co₂FeGe is a HMF when treated with LSDA+U.     

Thermomagnetic history effects across the first order magneto-structural transition in the giant magnetocaloric Fe-Rh alloy

We investigate the electronic structure of Sr₂FeMoO₆/SrTiO₃ (SFMO/STO) multilayers using the ab initio Full Potential Linearized Augmented Plane Wave method in order to study their properties within the GGA and GGA+U methods. We examin more especially the role of the interface on the magnetic and transport properties of these multilayers taking into account a possible Fe deficiency at the interface and we show that bulk behaviour is rapidly recovered due to the strong localization of the interfacial perturbation. For perfect interfaces, the whole structure is found half-metallic within the GGA+U method; the situation being ambiguous within the GGA method where SFMO is at the limit of being half-metallic depending on the structural deformation induced by the STO layer. This leads us to the conclusion that such a system could be used as injection electrode and tunnel barrier in magnetic tunnel junctions with a fully spin polarized injected current. For Fe deficient interfaces, we show that the interfacial densities of states are nearly unpolarized showing that this kind of imperfection has potentially a strong impact on the properties of the multilayers.     

The spin effect in zinc-blende CdEuS and CdEuSe: GGA and GGA+U studies

We have investigated the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of substitutional europium rare earth impurity in cubic CdS and CdSe by employing the ab-initio method. Calculations were performed by using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave plus local orbitals (FP-L/APW+lo) method within the framework of spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT). The electronic exchange-correlation energy is described by generalized gradient approximation GGA and GGA+U (U is the Hubbard correction). The GGA+U method is applied to the rare-earth 4f states. We have calculated the lattice parameters, bulk modulii, the first pressure derivatives of the bulk modulii and the cohesive energies. The calculated densities of states presented in this study identify the metallic behavior of CdEuS and CdEuSe when we use the GGA scheme, whereas when we use the GGA+U, we see that these compounds are half-metallic.     

Investigation of possible half-metal material on double perovskites Sr2BBO6 (B,B=3d transition metal) using first-principle calculations

We investigated the possible candidates of half-metal (HM) material in double perovskites structure Sr₂BB′O₆ (B, B′=3d transition metal). The electronic structure calculations were based on density functional theory (DFT) with both generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA+U approaches, where +U is on-site Coulomb interaction correction. With the consideration of 4 types of magnetic states, i.e. ferromagnetic (FM), ferromagnetic (FiM), antimagnetic (AF) and nonmagnetic (NM), we found 5 promising candidates for half-metallic (HM) materials: Sr₂ScCrO₆, Sr₂TiCrO₆, Sr₂MnCrO₆, Sr₂ZnMnO₆ and Sr₂ZnFeO₆.     

First principles study of half-metallic ferromagnetism in Zn1−xEuxS

Density functional theory calculations by using both generalized gradient approximation (GGA) method and the GGA with considering strong correlation effect (GGA+U) for various Eu concentrations x (=0.00, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75). It is found that after the Europium incorporation, a new localized band appears between the valence and conduction bands, which corresponds to the majority spin of Eu-4f states, the strong correlation effects is very important for the 4f orbit of the Eu atom in ZnEuS. We find that Zn_1−xEu_xS exhibits a half-metallic characteristic, and the ferromagnetic state is more favorable in energy than the antiferromagnetic state. Structural properties are determined from the total energy calculations, and we discuss the electronic structures, total and partial densities of states and local moments.     

Electronic structure and magnetic coupling properties of EuFe2P2: First-principles calculations

We have investigated the electronic structure and magnetic properties of EuFe₂P₂ using first-principles density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA)+U schemes. Our calculated ground state magnetic configurations of EuFe₂P₂ is ferromagnetic which Eu²⁺ spins order along c axis. We argue that this kind of magnetic structure of Eu is determined by the indirect RKKY interactions between Eu and direct coupling interaction between Eu 4f with Fe 3d state by our spin-polarized density of states calculations. From the charge density and the Laplace charge density of EuFe₂P₂, we believe that the magnetic moment of Fe is determined by not only Fe-P coupling interactions but also Fe-Fe directly exchange interactions.     

First-principles study on the crystal, electronic structure and mechanical properties of hexagonal Al3RE (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd) intermetallic compounds

The structural properties, elastic properties and electronic structures of hexagonal Al₃RE intermetallic compounds are calculated by using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. Since there exists strong on-site Coulomb repulsion between the highly localized 4f electrons of RE atoms, we present a combination of the GGA and the LSDA+U approaches in order to obtain the appropriate results. The GGA calculated lattice constants for the hexagonal Al₃RE intermetallic compounds are in good agreement with available experimental values. The results of cohesive energy indicate that these compounds can be stable under absolute zero Kelvin and the stability of Al₃Gd is the strongest in all of the hexagonal Al₃RE compounds. The densities of states for GGA and LSDA+U approaches are also obtained for the Al₃RE intermetallic compounds. The mechanical properties are calculated from the GGA method in this paper. According to the computed single crystal elastic constants, Al₃La, Al₃Sm and Al₃Gd are mechanically unstable, while Al₃Ce, Al₃Pr and Al₃Nd are stable. The polycrystalline elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio have been deduced by using Voigt-Reuss-Hill (VRH) approximations, and the calculated ratio of bulk modulus to shear modulus indicates that Al₃La compound is ductile material, but Al₃Ce, Al₃Pr, Al₃Nd, Al₃Sm and Al₃Gd are brittle materials.     

LiV2O4: electronic,magnetic structure and heavy-fermion behaviour from first principles

First principles studies based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations within the generalized gradient approximations (GGA) and GGA + U approach using the full-potential, augmented plane wave + local orbitals (APW + lo) method, as implemented in the WIEN2k code, have been used to investigate the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of spinel-structure LiV₂O₄, in particular regarding the heavy fermion (HF) behaviour. The calculations were performed for ferromagnetic, anti-ferromagnetic, and ferrimagnetic configurations using two kinds of magnetic structures (tetragonal and rhombohedral). The GGA results showed that the Fermi energy lies in the V 3d (t_2g) bands with 1.5 electrons per V atom occupying this band, and the V 3d bands are separated by a ～1.9 eV energy gap from the O 2p bands and further split into t_2g and e_g bands with a ～1.0 eV energy gap, which are in good agreement with the photoelectron spectra. The GGA + U method indicates that the ground state of LiV₂O₄ is the tetragonal anti-ferromagnetic configuration with metallic character, and ferromagnetic order character at slightly higher energy, which is consistent with experimental result. The geometric frustration and hybridization between 3d (V) and 2p (O) could induce spin fluctuation and help to explain the instability of specific heat, susceptibility and HF behaviour.     

First-principles calculations and Bader analysis of oxygen-deficient induced magnetism in cubic BaTiO3−x and SrTiO3−x

The possibility of oxygen deficient induced magnetism in cubic BaTiO₃ (BTO) and SrTiO₃ (STO) perovskites is investigated by first-principles calculations, using the projector-augmented-wave method, within the generalised gradient approximation (GGA) and generalised gradient approximation with on-site effect (GGA + U), for the exchange correlation potential. For non-stoichiometric BaTiO_3?x and SrTiO_3?x, supercells were created in order to have two vacancy concentrations, i.e. x?=?0.125, 0.083. Spin charge distributions and magnetic moments associated with each ion, including local density of states projected in Bader atoms, were analysed by performing a full Bader charge analysis. Results show that oxygen vacancies could induce magnetism in BaTiO_3?x with x?=?0.125 and x?=?0.083 under GGA and GGA + U approximations. For SrTiO_3?x with x?=?0.125, ferromagnetism is induced with GGA, whereas with GGA + U the non-magnetic state is retained. On the other hand, with x?=?0.083, ferromagnetism is induced under GGA and GGA + U.     

A better ferrimagnetic half-metal LuCu3Mn4O12: Predicted from first-principles investigation

Electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA+U for manganite cuprate compound LuCu₃Mn₄O₁₂ have been performed, using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. The calculated results indicate that LuCu₃Mn₄O₁₂ is ferrimagnetic and half-metallic in both GGA and GGA+U calculations. The minority-spin band gap is 0.7 eV within GGA, which is larger than that of LaCu₃Mn₄O₁₂ (0.3 eV), indicating its better half-metallicity. Further, the minority-spin gap enlarges from 0.7 to 2.8 eV with U taken into account, and simultaneously the Fermi level being shifted to the middle of the gap, making the half-metallic energy gap to be 1.21 eV. These results demonstrate that electronic correlation effect enhances the stability of half-metallic property. These facts make this system interesting candidates for applications in spintronic devices.     

The role of Co impurities and oxygen vacancies in the ferromagnetism of Co-doped SnO2: GGA and GGA+U studies

The electronic structure and ferromagnetic stability of Co-doped SnO₂ are studied using the first-principle density functional method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA+U schemes. The addition of effective U_Co transforms the ground state of Co-doped SnO₂ to insulating from half-metallic and the coupling between the nearest neighbor Co spins to weak antimagnetic from strong ferromagnetic. GGA+U_Co calculations show that the pure substitutional Co defects in SnO₂ cannot induce the ferromagnetism. Oxygen vacancies tend to locate near Co atoms. Their presence increases the magnetic moment of Co and induces the ferromagnetic coupling between two Co spins with large Co-Co distance. The calculated density of state and spin density distribution calculated by GGA+U_Co show that the long-range ferromagnetic coupling between two Co spins is mediated by spin-split impurity band induced by oxygen vacancies. More charge transfer from impurity to Co-3d states and larger spin split of Co-3d and impurity states induced by the addition of U_Co enhance the ferromagnetic stability of the system with oxygen vacancies. By applying a Coulomb U_O on O 2 s orbital, the band gap is corrected for all calculations and the conclusions derived from GGA+U_Co calculations are not changed by the correction of band gap.