Band structure calculations for Heusler phase Co2YBi and half-Heusler phase CoYBi (Y=Mn, Cr)

We have studied the electron structure and magnetic properties of Heusler phase Co₂YBi and half-Heusler phase CoYBi (Y=Mn, Cr) by using the full-potential linearized-augmented plane-wave (FLAPW) method. Co₂MnBi and Co₂CrBi are predicted to be half-metallic magnetism with a total magnetic moment of 6 and 5 μ_B, respectively, well consistent with the Slater-Pauling rule. We also predict CoMnBi to be half-metallic magnetism with a slight compression. The gap origin for Co₂MnBi and Co₂CrBi is due to the 3d electron splitting of Mn (Cr) and Co atoms, and the gap width depends on Co electron splitting. The atom coordination surroundings have a great influence on the electron structure, and consequently the Y site in the X₂YZ structure has a more remarkable electron splitting than the X site due to the more symmetric surroundings. The investigation regarding the lattice constant dependence of magnetic moment shows that the Co magnetic moment exhibits an opposite behavior with the change of the lattice constant for Heusler and half-Heusler alloys, consequently leading to the different variation trends for total magnetic moment. The variation of total and atom magnetic moment versus lattice constant can be explained by the extent of 3d electron splitting and localization of Mn (Cr) and Co atoms for both the series of alloys.     

Effect of local atomic disorder on the half-metallicity of full-Heusler Co2FeSi alloy: a first-principles study

This paper investigates the effect of atomic disorder on the electronic structure, magnetism, and half-metallicity of full-Heusler Co2FeSi alloy by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA+U schemes. It considers three types of atomic disorders in Co2FeSi alloy: the Co-Fe, Co-Si, and Fe-Si disorders. Total energy calculations show that of the three types of disorders, the Fe-Si disorder is more likely to occur. It finds that for the Co-Si disorder, additional states appear in the minority band-gap at the EF and the half-metallcity is substantially destroyed, regardless of the disorder level. On the other hand, the Co-Fe and Fe-Si disorders have little effect on the half-metallicity at a low disorder level. When increasing the disorder levels, the half-metallcity is destroyed at about 9 % of the Co-Fe disorder level, while that stays at 25 % of the Fe-Si disorder level.     

First-principle study of full Heusler Co2Y Si using PBE0 hybrid functional

First-principle self-consistent full potential linear augmented plane wave calculations based on density functional theory using hybrid functional PBE0 are performed to study magnetic moments, density of states and half-metallicity of L2₁ type full Heusler alloys with formula Co₂Y Si. Y is Ti, V, Mn and Fe. We have compared these results with those of the PBE-GGA exchange correlation functional and the LDA + U method. The results for Co₂FeSi and Co₂MnSi are completely different; using the PBE0 hybrid functional for Co₂FeSi predicts experimental magnetic moment and also predicts this material to be half-metallic ferromagnet, while using PBE-GGA predicts it not to be half-metal. The results of PBE0 are more similar to the ones obtained by LDA + U method.     

Silicide formation in bilayer ultrathin iron and cobalt films on silicon

The processes that occur in ultrathin (up to 1 nm) Fe and Co layers during deposition onto the Si(100)2 × 1 surface in various sequences and during annealing of the formed structures to a temperature of 400°C are studied. The elemental and chemical compositions of the films are analyzed by in situ high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation, and their magnetic properties are determined using the magnetic linear dichroism effect in the angular distribution of Fe 3p and Co 3p electrons. It is shown that, when iron is first deposited, the formed structure consists of the layers of FeSi, Fe₃Si, Co-Si solid solution, and metallic cobalt with segregated silicon. The structure formed in the alternative case consists of the layers of CoSi, Co-Si solid solution, Co, Fe-Si solid solution, and Fe partly covered by silicon. All layers (apart from FeSi, CoSi) form general magnetic systems characterized by ferromagnetic ordering. Annealing of the structures at temperatures above 130dgC (for the Co/Fe/Si system) and ～200°C (for Fe/Co/Si) leads to the formation of nonmagnetic binary and ternary silicides (Fe _x Co_{1 ? x} Si, Fe _x Co_{2 ? x} Si).     

Effect of Si substitution on electronic structure and magnetic properties of Heusler compounds Co2TiAl1−xSix

The electronic structures of Co-based Heusler compounds CoTiAl_1−xSi_x (x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) are calculated by first-principles using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within GGA and LSDA+U scheme. Particular emphasis was put on the role of the main group elements. In recent years, the GGA calculations of Co₂TiAl (x=0) and Co₂TiSi (x=1) indicated that they are half-metallic, but the electronic structure of this compound with x=0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 has not been reported yet, neither theoretically nor experimentally. The calculated results reveal that these are half-metallic and exhibit an energy gap in the minority spin state and also show 100% spin polarization. The substitution of Al by Si leads to an increase in the number of valence electrons, with increasing x. Our calculated results clearly show that with the Si doping, the lattice parameter linearly decreases; bulk modulus increases, and the total magnetic moment increases. The calculated energy gap in the minority spin state, using GGA scheme, was smaller than that obtained by using LSDA+U scheme. The outcomes of this research also show that the Co-3d DOS and therefore, the magnetic properties of compounds are dependent on electron concentration of the main group elements and it will affect the degree of p-d orbital occupation.     

Half-metallic behavior of Co2YZ (Y = V,Cr; Z = Al,Ga) under pressure: a DFT study

The structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Co-based Heusler compounds Co₂YZ (Y = V, Cr; Z = Al, Ga) under pressure are studied using first principles density functional theory. The calculations are performed within generalized gradient approximation. The total magnetic moment decreases slightly on compression. Under application of external pressure, the valence band and conduction band are shifted downward which leads to the modification of electronic structure. There exists an indirect band gap along Г–X for all the alloys studied. Co₂CrAl shows half-metallic nature up to 85 GPa. After this pressure transition from true half-metallic behavior to nearly half-metallic behavior is observed and at 90 GPa it shows metallic behavior. Co₂CrGa shows nearly half-metallic behavior at ambient pressure, but true half-metallic behavior is observed as pressure is increased to 100 GPa. For Co₂VGa, true half-metallic to nearly half-metallic transition is observed at 40 GPa and around 100 GPa, Co₂VGa shows metallic behavior. For Co₂VAl, true half-metallic behavior is not observed at ambient as well as higher pressures. The half metal-to-metal transition in Co₂VAl and Co₂CrAl is accompanied by quenching of magnetic moment.     

Electronic, magnetic and transport properties of Co2TiZ (Z=Si, Ge and Sn): A first-principle study

We have studied the electronic structure, magnetic and transport properties of some Co based full Heusler alloys, namely Co₂TiZ (Z=Si, Ge and Sn), in the frame work of first-principle calculations. The calculations show that Co₂TiZ (X=Si, Ge and Sn) are to be half-metallic compounds with a magnetic moment of 2 μ_B, well consistent with the Slater-Pauling rule. The electronic structure results reveal that Co₂TiZ has the high density of states at the Fermi energy in the majority-spin state and show 100% spin polarization. Our results also suggest that both the electronic and magnetic properties in these compounds are intrinsically related to the appearance of the minority-spin gap. The origin of energy gap in the minority-spin states is discussed in terms of the electron splitting of Z (Z=Si, Ge and Sn) and 3d Co atoms and also the d-d hybridization between the Co and Ti atoms. The transport properties of these materials are discussed on the basis of Seebeck coefficients, electrical conductivity coefficients and thermal conductivity coefficients.     

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.     

Synthesis and rheological investigation of a magnetic fluid using olivary silica-coated iron particles as a precursor

A new type of magnetic fluid was prepared by dispersing monodispersed iron–silica (Fe–SiO₂) composite particles in polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400. The composite particles Fe–SiO₂ were synthesized by hydrogen reduction from α-Fe₂O₃–SiO₂ spheres. Their microstructures were observed by a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and the magnetism was characterized with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Both steady-state and dynamic rheological properties of the magnetic fluid under different magnetic fields were studied by using a rheometer. Experimental results show that this magnetic fluid has a relatively high magnetoviscous effect at low shear rates. The yield stress of this material shows an increasing trend with a magnetic flux density. Also, viscoealstic properties of such materials are different from conventional ones.     

Effect of γ-ray irradiation on the magnetic properties of NdFeB and Fe–Cr–Co permanent magnets

The effect of γ-ray irradiation on the magnetic properties of NdFeB and Fe–Cr–Co permanent magnets has been investigated. The magnetic flux loss of two kinds of magnets before and after irradiation was measured. Results show that the effect of γ-ray irradiation on the magnetic properties of sintered NdFeB is not so obvious as that on Fe–Cr–Co magnet. Irradiation-induced damage from γ-ray for the Fe–Cr–Co magnets was characterized for the first time. The decline of permanent magnetic properties of Fe–Cr–Co magnet induced by γ-ray irradiation is reversible except for the maximum energy product (BH)_max. The difference of coercivity mechanism between these two kinds of permanent magnets is responsible for the different dependence of magnetic properties loss induced by γ-ray irradiation.     

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.     

铁基Heusler合金Fe2Co1-xCrxSi的结构、磁性和输运性质的研究

基于多种实验手段和能带计算的方法, 对四元合金Fe₂Co_1-xCr_xSi的晶体结构、 磁性、输运性质及能带结构进行了研究. 研究发现, 随着Cr的增加, 合金Fe₂Co_1-xCr_xSi保持了高度有序结构, 逐渐从Hg₂CuTi结构的Fe₂CoSi 过渡到L2₁结构的Fe₂CrSi; 由于次晶格网络的破坏, 居里温度逐渐下降; 系列合金的分子磁矩呈现线性下降, 符合半金属特性; 剩余电阻比率与原子占位有序程度密切相关, 呈现两端大、 中间小的特点. 在Cr替代Co的过程中, 材料半金属能隙逐渐打开, 表现半金属特征. 同时费米能级从Fe₂CoSi半金属能隙的价带顶上移至Fe₂CrSi能隙的导带底. 最大的能隙宽度出现在x= 0.75处, 这表明四元合金有可能成为具有更高自旋极化率和更强抗干扰能力的自旋电子学材料.     

Magnetic properties of Co–Si alloy clusters

We have investigated the electronic structure and the magnetic properties of Co–Si alloy clusters using ab initio spin-polarized density functional calculations. The possible CoSi₂, CoSi, and Co₂Si phase clusters with oblique hexagon prism, icosahedron, and cuboctahedron structures are introduced. The CoSi phase cluster with icosahedron structure has the largest binding energy and amount of charge transfer. We found that HOMO-LUMO gap, magnetic moment, and spin polarization for the Co–Si alloy clusters with icosahedron structure increase with Co concentration. The Si atoms in the CoSi phase with icosahedron structure have negative magnetic moment.     

A first-principle prediction on the magnetism and electronic structure of Ti-doped CoO with two O vacancies

The electronic structure and magnetism in Co₁₄Ti₂O₁₄ systems are investigated by using the first-principles calculations. The system of 2 × 2 × 2 Co₁₄Ti₂O₁₆ supercell doped with Ti at 9 and 11 position shows a half-metallic character with a high spin polarization. Based on the above system, we remove two O atoms to form two O vacancies. The two O vacancies near Ti have a huge effect on the electronic structure and magnetic properties of Co₁₄Ti₂O₁₄ system. When O vacancies locate at 1 and 3 positions, the system shows a half-metallic character. For the O vacancies at 6 and 8 positions, the system shows a semiconducting character. The system with O vacancies at 9 and 11 positions is a typical spin gapless semiconductor.     

Theoretical study of the electronic and magnetic properties of Co2Cr1−xVxAl

We have investigated the electronic and magnetic properties of the doped Heusler alloys Co₂Cr_1−xV_xAl(x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) using first-principles density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) scheme. The calculated results reveal that with increasing V content the lattice parameter slightly increases; both cohesive energy and bulk modulus increase with increasing x. The magnetic moment of the Co(Cr) sites increases with V doping; the total spin moment of these compounds linearly decreases. We also have performed the electronic structure calculations for Co₂Cr_1−xV_xAl with positional disorder of Co-Y(Cr,V)-type and Al-Y(Cr,V)-type. It is found that formation of Al-Y-type disorder in Co₂Cr_1−xV_xAl alloys is more favorable than that of Co-Y-type disorder. Furthermore, we found that Co₂Cr_1−xV_xAl of the L2₁-type structure have a half-metallic character. And the stability of L2₁ structure will enhance, however, the Curie temperature decreases as the V concentration increases. The disorder between Cr(V) and Al does not significantly reduce the spin polarization of the alloys Co₂Cr_1−xV_xAl.     

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.     

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.     

Crystallization of some amorphous metallic alloys studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy

The present work provides an analysis of crystallization processes in amorphous metallic alloys Fe₈₀Si₄Cr_1.0B₁₄ and Fe₆₇Co₁₈B₁₄Si₁. Crystallization of the first sample started at the temperature of 648 K. The fully crystalline state was observed after annealing at 748 K. We identified four sextets. One corresponds to crystalline Fe₂B and the three others to FeSi solid solution with 10 at .% of Si. Crystallization of Fe₆₇Co₁₈B₁₄Si₁ started at the temperature of 623 K. We identified two crystalline phases. The first may have its origin as (Fe_1−xCo_x)₃B, the second one may correspond to a Fe−Co solid solution with a different Co content.     

ConAl (n= 1–8)合金团簇结构和磁性质研究

采用密度泛函理论中的广义梯度近似(DFT-GGA)对Co_nAl (n= 1–8)合金团簇进行了系统的几何、 电子结构和磁性质研究. 研究结果表明Al原子倾向于与Co原子形成最大的成键数, 即Al原子均处在团簇原子拥有最大配位数的位置上. Al掺杂后Co_nAl团簇的稳定性减弱, 磁性降低. 磁性降低的幅度与实验上对较大Co_nAl_M团簇的磁性检测结果获得了很好地符合. 在所有Co_nAl团簇的最稳定结构中, 除Co₄Al外, Al与近邻Co原子均呈现反铁磁性耦合. 相对于纯Co团簇,非磁性Al元素的掺入以及Al掺杂后Co原子整体自旋极化的减弱 是导致Co_nAl团簇磁性的降低主要原因. 关键词： nAl合金团簇')" href="#">Co_nAl合金团簇 几何结构 磁性 自旋极化     

Half-metallic properties of Ti2FeSi full-Heusler compound

In this study, the electronic structure and magnetic properties of novel half-metallic Ti₂FeSi full-Heusler compound with CuHg₂Ti-type structure were examined by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The electronic band structures and density of states of the Ti₂FeSi compound show the spin-up electrons are metallic, but the spin-down bands are semiconductor with a gap of 0.45 eV, and the spin-flip gap is of 0.43 eV. Fe atom shows only a small magnetic moment and its magnetic moment is antiparallel to that of Ti atoms, which is indicative of ferrimagnetism in Ti₂FeSi compound. The Ti₂FeSi Heusler compound has a magnetic moment of 2 μ_B at the equilibrium lattice constant a=5.997 Å.