Ab-initio investigation of electronic properties and magnetism of half-Heusler alloys XCrAl (X=Fe, Co, Ni) and NiCrZ (Z=Al, Ga, In)

The electronic structures and magnetism of the half-Heusler alloys XCrAl (X=Fe, Co, Ni) and NiCrZ (Z=Al, Ga, In) have been investigated to search for new candidate half-metallic materials. Here, we predict that NiCrAl, and NiCrGa and NiCrIn are possible half-metals with an energy gap in the minority spin and a completely spin polarization at the Fermi level. The energy gap can be attributed to the covalent hybridization between the d states of the Ni and Cr atoms, which leads to the formation of bonding and antibonding peaks with a gap in between them. Their total magnetic moments are 1μ_B per unit cell; agree with the Slater-Pauling rule. The partial moment of Cr is largest in NiCrZ alloys and moments of Ni and Al are in antiferromagnetic alignment with Cr. Meanwhile, it is also found that FeCrAl is a normal ferromagnetic metal with a magnetic moment of 0.25μ_B per unit cell and CoCrAl is a semi-metal and non-magnetic.     

Observation of magnetic splitting in XPS MnL-spectra of Co2MnSn and Pd2MnSn Heusler alloys

The XPS MnL-spectra of Co₂MnSn, a nearly half-metallic ferromagnet (HMF) and Pd₂MnSn were investigated. The most drastical feature of the spectra observed is the well-defined magnetic splitting of the Mn 2p _3/2 , 2p _1/2 lines. This gives direct evidence of the existence of well-defined local magnetic moments in Heusler alloys in comparison with other itinerant-electron ferromagnets. The calculations of Mn2p XPS spectra of these materials were carried out using a fully relativistic generalization of the one-step model of photoemission and show excellent agreement with experiment. Received: 31 October 1997 / Received in final form: 28 November 1997 / Accepted: 18 December 1997     

Effect of Fe substitution on the magnetic properties of half-Heusler alloy CoCrAl

The effect of Fe substitution for the vacant site in half-Heusler alloy CoCrAl is studied. A series of single phase CoFe_xCrAl (x=0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0) alloys has been successfully synthesized. The lattice constant is found to increase almost linearly with increasing Fe content, indicating Fe atoms enter the lattice of CoCrAl instead of existing as a secondary phase. When Fe entering the vacant site, spin polarization occurs and the alloy turns from a semimetal in CoCrAl to a half-metallic ferromagnet (HMF) in CoFeCrAl. This is due to the reconstruction of the energy band with Fe substitution. The Curie temperature and saturation magnetic moments are enhanced and increase monotonically with increasing Fe content. The variation of the spin moment follows the Slater-Pauling curve and agrees with the theoretical calculation as well.     

Defects-driven appearance of half-metallic ferrimagnetism in Co-Mn-based Heusler alloys

Half-metallic ferromagnetic full-Heusler alloys containing Co and Mn, having the formula Co₂MnZ where Z is a sp element, are among the most studied Heusler alloys due to their stable ferromagnetism and the high Curie temperatures which they present. Using state-of-the-art electronic structure calculations we show that when Mn atoms migrate to sites occupied in the perfect alloys by Co, these Mn atoms have spin moments antiparallel to the other transition metal atoms. The ferrimagnetic compounds, which result from this procedure, keep the half-metallic character of the parent compounds and the large exchange-splitting of the Mn impurities atoms only marginally affects the width of the gap in the minority-spin band. The case of [Co_1−xMn_x]₂MnSi is of particular interest since Mn₃Si is known to crystallize in the Heusler L2₁ lattice structure of Co₂MnZ compounds. Robust half-metallic ferrimagnets are highly desirable for realistic applications since they lead to smaller energy losses due to the lower external magnetic fields created with respect to their ferromagnetic counterparts.     

A first-principles study on the lower-valence coexisting Cr2TiX (X=Al, Ga, Si, Ge, Sn, Sb) Heusler alloys

The electronic, magnetic, and bonding properties of the Cr₂TiX (X=Al, Ga, Si, Ge, Sn, Sb) Heusler alloys have been investigated using first-principles calculations. The results show that Cr₂TiSb exhibits a half-metallic nature and Cr₂TiGa and Cr₂TiSn exhibit a nearly half-metallic nature. From analysis of the density of states and the electron density difference along the Ga→Sn→Sb series for sp atoms, we found that the Cr-Ti bond demonstrates covalent character with more or less the ionic and metallic nature. In addition, the Cr-Ti bonding strength increases along this series. All the compounds have a negative total magnetic moment, most of which are confined to the Cr atoms. There exists a 1.0μ_B increasing trend of the total moment along the III→IV→V main group for sp atoms, and only the total moment of Cr₂TiSb coincides well with the Slater-Pauling behavior.     

Pressure and disorder effects on the half-metallic character and magnetic properties of the full-Heusler alloy Co2FeSi

We investigate the pressure and site disorder effects on the half-metallicity and magnetic properties of the full-Heusler alloy Co₂FeSi using first-principles density functional theory within the GGA and GGA+U schemes. The calculated lattice constant, bulk modulus and total magnetic moments are in excellent agreement with recent experiments. The volume compression leads to a slight increase of the minority band gap, i.e., the half-metallic properties of Co₂FeSi can maintain under pressure. The disorder calculations reveal that Fe–Co type disorder significantly destroys the half-metallic character and reduces the spin polarization of Co₂FeSi while disorder between Fe and Si can maintain half-metallic properties. Our results also show that the Fe–Co type disorder leads to degradation of the magnetism while the Fe–Si type disorder affects hardly the magnetism as observed in Co₂FeSi.     

Effect of Cr on the electronic structure of Co3Al intermetallic compound: A first-principles study

The effect of doping with Cr on the electronic structure and magnetism of Co₃Al has been studied by density functional calculations. It has been found that the Cr atom has a strong site preference for the B-site in Co₃Al. With the substitution of Cr for Co, the total densities of states (DOS) change obviously: A DOS peak appears at E_F in the majority spin states and an energy gap is opened in the minority spin states. The effect of Cr in Co₃Al is mainly to push the antibonding peak of the Co (A,C) atoms high on the energy scale and to form the energy gap around E_F, and also to contribute to the large DOS peak at E_F in the majority spin direction. The calculations indicate a ferromagnetic alignment between the Co and Cr spin moments. The calculated total magnetic moment decreases and becomes closer to the Slater–Pauling curve with increasing Cr content. This is mainly due to the decrease of the Co (A,C) spin moments. At the same time, the moments of Co (B) and Cr (B) only change slightly.     

The structural,half-metal,magnetic, and mechanical properties of full Heusler alloy CrCoVSb: A first-principles study

In this paper, the Co-mixing calculation of the full Heusler alloy Cr₂VSb was performed using a first-principles calculation method. The calculations revealed that, after mixing with Co, the Cr₂VSb alloy can form a full Heusler alloy that is a half-metallic magnetic material with an equilibrium lattice parameter of 6.059 Å. Furthermore, the results showed that the magnetic properties of this alloy are mainly derived from the contributions of d electrons associated with the Cr, Co, and V atoms. Stress-induced changes in the lattice parameter had a significant influence on the magnetic moment of each atom, but, owing to mutual compensation, the total magnetic moment of the alloy remained unchanged. In terms of mechanical properties, the results revealed that the CrCoVSb alloy is an anisotropic ductile material.     

Half-metallic ferromagnetism of zinc-blende CrS and CrP: a first-principles pseudopotential study

The electronic structure and the ferromagnetism of CrS and CrP in the zinc-blende (ZB) phase are investigated by spin-polarized calculations with first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential method within the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation potential. From the analysis of the spin-dependent density of states, band structure and magnetic moment, we predict that ZB CrS and CrP at their respective equilibrium lattice constant are half-metallic ferromagnets with a magnetic moment of 4.00 and 3.00μ_B per formula unit, respectively. We also find that the ZB CrS maintains half-metallic ferromagnetism up to 3% compression of lattice constant while the half-metallic ferromagnetism for ZB CrP exists only near its equilibrium lattice constant.     

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-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.     

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.     

Electronic band structure matching for half- and full-Heusler alloys

We explore the lattice and the electronic band structures matching between the half-metallic Heusler alloys (half-Heusler NiMnSb and full-Heusler Co₂MnSi) and several hypothetical non-magnetic Heusler alloys by using first principle calculations. The lattice and band structure matching are almost perfectly satisfied between the two materials of similar crystal structures: (i) NiMnSb and XYSb and (ii) Co₂MnSi and X₂YSi, where X, Y=Ni or Cu. Owing to the high interface spin scattering asymmetry, these materials are promising to realize a high giant magnetoresistance at room temperature.     

High spin polarization in ordered Cr3Co with the DO3 structure: A first-principles study

The electronic structure of the highly ordered alloy Cr₃Co with the DO₃ structure has been studied by FLAPW calculations. It is found that the ferrimagnetic state is stable and that the equilibrium lattice constant of Cr₃Co equals 5.77 Å. A large peak in majority spin density of states (DOS) and an energy gap in minority spin DOS are observed at the Fermi level, which results in a high spin polarization of 90% in the ordered alloy Cr₃Co. The total magnetic moment of Cr₃Co is 3.12μ_B, which is close to the ideal value of 3μ_B derived from the Slater-Pauling curve. An antiparallel alignment between the moments on the Cr (A, C) sites and the Cr (B) sites is observed. Finally, the effect of lattice distortion on the electronic structure and on magnetic properties of Cr₃Co compound is studied. A spin polarization higher than 80% can be obtained between 5.55 and 5.90 Å. With increasing lattice constant, the magnetic moments on the (A, C) sites increase and the moments on the (B, D) sites decrease. They compensate each other and make the total magnetic moment change only slightly.     

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.     

第一性原理研究Co2MnSi和Co2MnGe半金属与磁性的稳定性

基于广义梯度近似密度泛函和全势能线性缀加平面波方法,对Co2MnSi和Co2MnGe在晶格常数发生变化的情况下进行电子结构和磁矩的自旋极化计算,得到了它们的自旋态密度分布以及总磁矩和各原子磁矩。计算结果的分析表明：（1）Co2MnSi 和Co2MnGe具有半金属性质;（2）晶格常数的改变分别为-5%~ 4%和-6%~1%时,Co2MnSi 和 Co2MnGe仍保持稳定的半金属质性;（3）Co2MnSi 和Co2MnGe的总磁矩为5.00µB/formula。总磁矩主要来源于Mn和Co的原子磁矩,Si和Ge的原子磁矩对总磁矩的贡献极小而且为负值。（4）Co2MnSi 和 Co2MnGe的晶格常数变化分别为-6% ~ 6%和-7%~ 4%时,虽然各原子磁矩都发生了变化,但是它们总磁矩稳定于5.00µB/formula.     

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.     

Electronic structure and magnetism in full-Heusler compound Mn2ZnGe

The first-principle calculations within density functional theory are used to investigate the electronic structure and magnetism of the Mn₂ZnGe Heusler alloy with CuHg₂Ti-type structure. The half-metallic ferrimagnets (HMFs) in Mn₂ZnGe are predicted. The energy gap lies in the minority-spin band for the Mn₂ZnGe alloy. The calculated total spin magnetic moment is −2μ_B per unit cell for Mn₂ZnGe alloy, the magnetic moments of Zn and Mn(B) are antiparallel to that of Mn(A), and we also found that the half-metallic properties of Mn₂ZnGe are insensitive to the dependence of lattice within the wide range of 5.69 and 5.80 Å where exhibiting perfect 100% spin polarization at the Fermi energy.     

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.