First-principle calculations of structural,electronic and magnetic investigations of Mn2RuGe1-xSnx quaternary Heusler alloys

First-principles calculations were used to calculate the structural, electronic and half-metallic ferromagnetism of Mn₂RuGe_1-xSn_x (x?=?0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1) Heusler alloys. The Hg₂CuTi-type structure is found to be energetic more than Cu₂MnAl-type structure for both Mn₂RuGe and Mn₂RuSn compounds. The calculated lattice constants for Mn₂RuGe and Mn₂RuSn are 5.91?Å and 6.17?Å, respectively. The electronic band structures and density of states of Mn₂RuGe show a half metallic character with total magnetic moments, 2 μ_B per formula unit that are in good agreement with Slater-Pauling rule with indirect band gap, 0.31?eV along the direction Γ –X. It is observed that the total magnetic moment per cell increases as Sn concentration increases in the Heusler alloys.     

First-principles study of half-metallic properties of the Heusler alloy Ti2CoGe

First-principles calculations have been performed on the electronic structures and magnetic properties of a new Ti₂Co-based full-Heusler alloy Ti₂CoGe. The calculations predict the Ti₂CoGe is a half-metallic ferromagnet at the equilibrium lattice constant with the minority-spin energy gap of 0.60 eV. It is found that the total magnetic moment (M_t) and the number of valence electrons (Z_t) in Ti₂CoGe obey a new Slater–Pauling (SP) rule of M_t=Z_t−18 and the rule also can be applied to other Ti₂Co-based half-metallic full-Heusler alloys. The Ti₂CoGe alloy keeps a 100% polarization at Fermi level and maintains the half-metallic character for lattice constants ranging between 6.05 and 6.67 Å.     

Heusler合金Co2TiSn的磁性与输运性能

通过对Heusler合金Co₂TiSn磁性和输运性能的实验研究，发现低场中Co_{2< /sub>TiSn呈现出亚铁磁性；电阻和霍尔电阻率在温度低于8K时均出现异常.同时分析了电输 运的散射机制，并对反常霍尔效应产生的机制进行了探讨. 关键词： Heusler合金 磁性 输运性能}     

First-principles investigation of the electronic structure and magnetism of Heusler alloys CoMnSb and Co2MnSb

The spin-polarized electronic band structures, density of states (DOS), and magnetic properties of Co-Mn-based Heusler alloys CoMnSb and Co₂MnSb have been studied by first-principles method. The calculations were performed by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) within the spin-polarized density functional theory and generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Calculated electronic band structures and the density of states are discussed in terms of the contribution of Co 3d⁷4s², Mn 3d⁵4s², and Sb 5s²5p³ partial density of states and the spin magnetic moments were also calculated. The results reveal that both CoMnSb and Co₂MnSb have stable ferromagnetic ground state. They are ideal half-metallic (HM) ferromagnet at their equilibrium lattice constants. The calculated total spin magnetic moments are 3μ_B for CoMnSb and 6μ_B for Co₂MnSb per unit cell, which agree with the Slater-Pauling rule quite well.     

Composition dependence of magnetic anisotropy and quadratic magnetooptical effect in epitaxial films of the Heusler alloy Co2MnGe

Magnetic anisotropy and magnetooptic Kerr effect for epitaxial films of Co_xMn_yGe_1−x−y grown on Ge (1 1 1) substrates have been studied systematically in the compositional vicinity of the Heusler alloy Co₂MnGe. A large quadratic magnetooptic Kerr effect has been observed within a narrow region of composition centered around the Co to Mn atomic ratio of 2. The effect has been used to probe and quantify the magnetic anisotropy of the system, which is shown to have a strong sixfold in-plane component accompanied by a weak uniaxial component at room temperature. These properties are shown to depend sensitively on atomic ratio between Co and Mn, indicating the presence of an intrinsic composition-driven phenomenon.     

Half-metallicity and magnetic properties of half-Heusler type Mn2Sn: Ab initio predictions

Ab initio calculations have been carried out to investigate the electronic structure and magnetism of the compound Mn₂Sn with the bcc half-Heusler structure. For the equilibrium lattice parameter 5.69 Å, Mn₂Sn is predicted to be a half-metallic fully compensated ferrimagnet (also called half-metallic antiferromagnet) with zero total spin moment. This zero moment agrees well with the Slater-Pauling curve and mainly comes from the compensated Mn (A) and Mn (B) spin moments in antiparallel configuration. The half-metallicity of Mn₂Sn is stable in a wide lattice-parameter range from 5.6 Å to 5.9 Å. Upon contraction of the lattice, a transition from half-metallicity to semimetallicity is observed.     

Mn2 CoSb compound: Structural, electronic, transport and magnetic properties

High-ordered Mn₂CoSb compound has been synthesized successfully by a melt-spinning technique. The band structure calculation shows that Mn₂CoSb is a true half-metallic ferromagnet characterized by an indirect Γ–X band gap of about 0.4007 eV around the Fermi level for minority-spin electrons. The calculated magnetic moment is per formula unit, which is close to the experimental value of . The electronic resistivity shows a power-law T^1.33 temperature dependence at low temperature. The T^1.5 dependence of the magnetization was observed at low temperature, which is expected from Bloch’s law.     

Observation of magnetic cluster phase above Curie temperature in Fe2CrAl Heusler alloy

We present a detailed magnetic critical behavior study of Fe₂CrAl Heusler alloy, for the first time, with rigorous analysis of high precision magnetization data obtained over the critical temperature region. Our studies confirm that B2 type site-disordered in Fe₂CrAl alloy exhibits long-range ferromagnetic order below a well defined Curie temperature (T=208 K). Though the nature of this transition is found to be of second order, the estimated critical exponents β=0.42, γ=1.356 and δ=4.25, are in between the theoretically predicted values for three-dimensional Heisenberg and mean-field interaction models. However, it is noteworthy that the scaling relations are obeyed indicating renormalization of interactions around the Curie temperature (T_C), where magnetization data collapse into two separate branches, above and below T_C. This conclusively shows that calculated critical exponents as well as critical temperature are unambiguous and intrinsic to the system. However, magnetization vs temperature data shows another magnetic transition (at T=313 K) above the Curie temperature. It is shown that the short range magnetic correlation exist even beyond T_C with cluster moment ∼10² μ_B. This is attributed to a site disorder which results in formation of Cr clusters with short range ferromagnetic order.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Co2CrAl Heusler alloys prepared by mechanical alloying

Mechanical alloying has been used to produce nanocrystalline samples of Co₂CrAl Heusler alloys. The samples were characterized by using different methods. The results indicate that, it is possible to produce L2₁-Co₂CrAl powders after 15 h of ball-milling. The grain size of 15 h ball milled L2₁-Co₂CrAl Heusler phase, calculated by analyzing the XRD peak broadening using Williamson and Hall approach was 14 nm. The estimated magnetic moment per formula unit is ∼2 μ_B. The obtained magnetic moment is significantly smaller than the theoretical value of 2.96 μ_B for L2₁ structure. It seems that an atomic disorder from the crystalline L2₁-type ordered state and two-phase separation depresses the ferromagnetic ordering in alloy. Also, the effect of annealing on the structural and magnetic properties of ball milled powders was investigated. Two structures were identified for annealed sample, namely L2₁ and B2. The obtained value for magnetic moment of annealed sample is smaller than the as-milled sample due to the presence of disordered B2 phase and improvement of phase separation.     

Origin of the Z−28 rule in Mn2Cu-based Heusler alloys: A comparing study

The origin of the Slater–Pauling curve M_t=Z_t−28 (Here M_t is the total spin moment and Z_t is the number of valence electrons) in half-metallic Heusler alloys Mn₂CuZ (Z=Ge and Sb) has been studied in detail. In Mn₂CuZ the half-metallic gap has a similar origin like half-Heusler alloys. The Cu atom acts as an electron “donator” in Mn₂CuZ, which contributes five d-electrons to the minority spin band of Mn₂CuZ. So there are 14 valence electrons in the minority band of Mn₂CuZ below the Fermi level. This is the origin of the S–P curve M_t=Z_t–28. Finally, it is found that, by partial doping of Cu to the vacant site of half-metallic half-Heusler alloys, the magnetic moments of these can be tuned without destroying the half-metallicity. This can be a possible way to design new half-metals.     

等价电子数组元Heusler合金Fe_2RuSi中的原子占位

对等价电子数组元Heusler合金Fe_2RuSi的原子占位、电子结构与磁性进行了理论与实验研究.第一性原理计算表明,虽然Fe_2RuSi中Fe,Ru均有8个价电子,但是Ru仍表现出强烈的占据A,C晶位倾向.基态总能最低的是Fe与Ru分别占据A,C晶位的XA结构,次低的是Fe,Ru在A,C位混乱占位的L2_1B结构,且两者能量差很小.这说明决定Heusler合金中过渡族原子占位的因素除价电子数以外还可能有原子半径和共价杂化作用等.态密度和差分电荷密度计算表明Heusler合金中主族元素与最近邻过渡族元素之间的p-d共价杂化对Heusler合金的占位有明显影响,在XA结构中Ru与Si和Fe(B)之间都存在明显的杂化作用,而在高能的L2_1结构中,Si与最近邻的Fe杂化作用相当弱.XRD测试表明在室温Fe_2RuSi存在A,C位之间的Fe-Ru反占位,形成了能量次高的L21B结构,这主要来自于混合熵对自由能的贡献及其引起的原子自发混乱占位.在5 K下Fe_2RuSi的饱和磁矩为4.87μB/f.u.,与计算值符合得相当好.     

Heusler合金Co2MnAl(100)表面电子结构、磁性和自旋极化的第一性原理研究

基于第一性原理计算方法系统地研究了L2₁和B2结构下的Heusler合金Co₂MnAl(100)表面原子的原子弛豫、电子结构、磁性和自旋极化行为. L2₁和B2结构的Co₂MnAl(100)表面由于Co–Mn和Co–Al的成键差异, 使得不同原子分别发生不同程度的伸缩. 与块体相比, Co和Mn原子的自旋磁矩由于表面效应而明显增大, 电子结构计算显示L2₁结构块体中的带隙被表面态破坏, 表面效应使得两种结构的CoCo端面自旋极化率降低, 但MnAl端面并未受到显著影响, 呈现了较大的自旋极化, 预测其在隧道结中可能具有很好的应用潜力.     

哈斯勒合金Ni-Fe-Mn-In的马氏体相变与磁特性研究

利用电弧炉制备了Ni_50-xFe_xMn₃₇In₁₃(x=1, 3, 5) 多晶样品, 通过结构和磁性测量, 系统分析了Ni_50-xFe_xMn₃₇In₁₃(x=1, 3, 5)样品的晶体结构和马氏体相变. 结果表明, 三样品在室温下呈现出了不同的晶体结构. 同时, 随着Fe含量的增加, 样品的马氏体相变温度急剧下降, 而铁磁性却逐渐增强. 研究了Fe3和Fe5样品在反马氏体相变过程中的磁电阻和磁卡效应. 在外加3 T的磁场下, 两样品在反马氏体相变区域所表现出的磁电阻效应分别约为-46%和-15%, 而等温熵变则约为6 J·kg^{-1·K-1和9.5 J}·kg^{-1·K-1. 然而, 伴随非常宽的相变温跨和较小的磁滞损失, Fe3样品在反马氏体相变区域的净制冷量达到96 J}·kg^-1.     

Heusler合金Pd2 CrAl四方变形、磁性及弹性常数的第一性原理计算

采用基于密度泛函理论的投影缀加波方法研究了Heusler合金Pd₂CrAl的四方变形、磁性和弹性常数. 四方变形中,Pd₂CrAl在c/a≈1.20处出现总能的局域最小值,对应一个稳定的马氏体. Pd₂CrAl的L2₁结构和四方结构的单胞总磁矩分别为3.825μ_B和3.512μ_B. 在这两种结构中Cr原子均是Pd₂CrAl总磁矩的主要贡献者,Pd和Cr原子间存在很强的杂化作用,Cr的3d电子的t_2g和e_g两个亚能带是Pd₂CrAl磁性的主要来源. 弹性常数的计算结果显示,Pd₂CrAl的L2₁结构和四方结构的弹性常数均满足相应结构的稳定性判据. 关键词： Heusler合金 四方变形 磁性 弹性常数     

Half-metallic ferrimagnetism in Full-Heusler alloy Mn2CuMg

In the paper Ab initio electronic structure calculations are applied to study the electronic structure and magnetism properties of a new Mn-based Heusler alloy Mn₂CuMg. We take into account both possible L 2₁ structures (CuHg₂Ti and AlCu₂Mn types). The CuHg₂Ti-type structure is found to be energetically more favorable than the AlCu₂Mn-type structure and presents half-metallic ferrimagnetism. However, the case of exchanging X with Y atoms in generic formula loses its half-metallicity due to the symmetric surroundings. Calculations show that their total spin moment is −1μ_B for a wide range of equilibrium lattice constants and the total spin magnetic moment is attributed mainly to the two Mn atoms, while the Cu atom is almost non-magnetic. A small total spin moment origins from the antiparallel configurations of the Mn partial moments. The CuHg₂Ti-type Mn₂CuMg alloy keeps a 100% of spin polarization of conduction electrons at the Fermi level, thus opening the way to engineer new half-metallic alloys with the desired magnetic properties.     

Half-metallic ferrimagnetism in Mn2CuGe

We study magnetism properties and the electronic structure of a new Mn-based Heusler alloys Mn₂CuGe using ab initio electronic structure calculations. We take into account both possible L 2₁ structures (CuHg₂Ti and AlCu₂Mn types). The CuHg₂Ti-type structure is found to be energetically more favorable than the AlCu₂Mn-type structure and exhibits half-metallic ferrimagnetism. Calculations show that their total spin moment is for a wide range of equilibrium lattice constants and magnetic moment mainly comes from the two Mn atoms, while the Cu atom is almost nonmagnetic. The small total moment comes from the antiparallel configurations of the Mn partial moments. And the CuHg₂Ti-type Mn₂CuGe alloy keeps a 100% of spin polarization at the Fermi level. Thus, the Mn₂CuGe is the compound of choice for further experimental investigations.     

亚铁磁Heusler合金Mn2CoGa和Mn2CoAl掺杂Cr,Fe和Co的局域铁磁结构

通过实验和计算的方法研究了Mn₂CoM_xGa_1-x 和Mn₂CoM_xAl_1-x (M=Cr, Fe, Co)掺杂系列合金样品. 研究发现, 在共价作用的影响下, Fe和Co原子占A位, 使被取代的MnA (-2.1 μ_B)变成MnD (3.2 μ_B), 在最近邻的强交换作用下亚铁磁基体中形成了MnB-CoC-MnD局域铁磁性结构, 使分子磁矩的增量最高可达6.18 μ_B. Fe, Co 掺杂后建立同样的局域铁磁结构, 居里温度的变化趋势却不同. 实验观察到Mn₂Co_1+xAl_1-x中掺杂容忍度高达x=0.64, 远高于在Mn₂CoGa中(x=0.36)的结果; 以及随着Al的减少, 合金由B2有序向A2混乱转变等现象, 为共价作用对合金结构稳定的影响提供了证据. 磁测量中发现Cr掺杂后磁矩增量高达3.65 μ_B以及居里温度快速上升的反常现象, 意味着对占位规则的违背.     

Effect of low-valent atom substitution on electronic structure and magnetic properties of Fe1.5M0.5CoSi (M=V, Cr, Mn, Fe) Heusler alloys

Quaternary Heusler alloys Fe_1.5M_0.5CoSi with M=V, Cr, Mn and Fe have been investigated theoretically and experimentally. All of these samples crystallize in the ordered Heusler-type structure. The calculated electronic structure shows a pseudogap around E_F in the minority spin states of Fe₂CoSi. With the substitution of low-valent atoms for Fe, the majority antibonding peak is shifted to higher energy and a minority gap around the Fermi level is opened. High spin polarization ratio is obtained in Fe_1.5M_0.5CoSi (M=V, Cr, Mn) alloys. The calculated total spin moments decrease with decreasing number of valence electrons and follow the Slater-Pauling curve, which agree with the experimental results well. The Curie temperature decreases as M atom varies from Fe to V, but is always higher than 650 K, which is suitable for technical applications.     

Dynamical stability,electronic and thermoelectric properties of quaternary ZnFeTiSi Heusler compound

We investigated the dynamical stability, electronic and thermoelectric properties of the ZnFeTiSi Heusler compound by combining the first-principles calculations and semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory. The phonon dispersion indicates the dynamical stability and the calculated formation energy is negative which confirm the stability of ZnFeTiSi in the Heusler structure. The calculated electronic structures show that ZnFeTiSi is a semiconductor with an indirect band gap of about 0.573 eV using GGA and 0.643 eV by mBJ-GGA potentials at equilibrium lattice parameter (5.90 Å). Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and electronic thermal conductivity were calculated to describe the thermoelectric properties of the ZnFeTiSi compound. It is found that it exhibits high Seebeck coefficient and power factor, making it promising for future thermoelectric applications.     

Heusler合金Fe2CrGa的磁性与结构

采用KKR-CPA-LDA方法研究了不同混乱占位时Fe₂CrGa合金基态的电子结构和磁结构. 基态能量表明Fe₂CrGa合金更倾向于形成Hg₂CuTi型有序结构,而不是L2₁结构. 能态密度(DOS)分析进一步揭示受晶体场影响的磁性原子内部交换作用是使Fe₂CrGa合金形成 Hg₂CuTi型有序结构的主要原因.测量了不同热处理所得Fe₂CrGa合金的居里温度和分子磁矩, 发现原子占位有序化可以在137K温度范围内调控合金的居里温度.分子磁矩随有序化占位也有相应变化, 分布在2.28μ_B/f.u.—2.48μ_B/f.u.之间.理论计算和实验对比可证明Fe₂CrGa合金是Hg₂CuTi型Heusler合金.