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.     

First-principles study on the magnetism in ZnS-based diluted magnetic semiconductors

The electronic and magnetic properties of wurtzite ZnS semiconductor doped with transition metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) atoms are studied by using the first-principle’s method in this paper. The ZnS bulk materials doped with Cr, Fe, and Ni are determined to be half-metallic, while those doped with Mn and Co impurities are found to be semiconducting. These doped transition metal ions have long range interactions mediated through the induced magnetic moments in anions and cations of host semiconductors. These doped ZnS-based diluted magnetic semiconductors seem to be good candidates for the future spintronic applications.     

Effects of enhanced electronic correlation on magnetic properties of light non-metallic element (B,C, N,and O)-doped CuCl: A first-principles study

Based on density functional calculations within both standard generalized gradient approximation and plus on-site Coulomb interactions approaches, we have investigated the electronic structure and magnetic properties of the first-row element-doped CuCl semiconductors. The electronic correlations in both 2p and 3d orbitals are enhanced by adding the on-site Coulomb repulsion (Hubbard U and Hund exchange J). After a comparative study, we find that, for both standard and beyond approaches, B-doped CuCl is a half-metallic magnet with majority-spin impurity bands touching the Fermi level, C-doped CuCl is a magnetic semiconductor, and N-doped CuCl is a half-metallic magnet with minority-spin impurity bands crossing the Fermi level. Nevertheless, for O-doped CuCl, it transforms from a nonmagnetic semiconductor to a half-metallic magnet with metallic up-spins by considering the correlation effects. The calculation shows that the enhanced electronic correlation not only corrects the error of band-gap, but also influences the magnetic ground state and the distribution of local magnetic moments. The location of impurity bands with different dopants was understood based on the elements' electronegativity and interaction between dopant and host atoms. Strong hybridization between the dopant's 2p states and the filled 3d orbitals of adjacent Cu yields the main contribution to magnetization.     

晶格均匀体形变对闪锌矿结构CaC和 SrC半金属性和磁性的影响

采用基于第一性原理的全势能线性缀加平面波方法计算闪锌矿结构CaC和SrC的电子结构.计算结果表明,锌矿结构CaC和SrC是自旋向上电子为非金属性的半金属,其半金属隙分别为0.83 eV和0.81 eV.磁性的计算分析表明,CaC和SrC的晶胞总磁矩都为2.00μ_B,C的原子磁矩较强,Ca和Sr的原子磁矩较弱.使晶格均匀体形变△a/a₀限于±15%,在此范围内计算CaC和SrC的电子结构.计算研究表明,当闪锌矿结构CaC和SrC的晶格常数分别为0.490 nm—0.661 nm和0.539 nm—0.707 nm时,它们的半金属性不变,晶胞总磁矩仍然为2.00μ_B.     

First-principles study of structural, electronic and magnetic properties in Cd1−xFexS diluted magnetic semiconductors

In this paper, we report theoretical investigations of structural, electronic and magnetic properties of ordered dilute ferromagnetic semiconductors Cd_1−xFe_xS with x=0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 in zinc blende (B3) phase using all-electron full-potential linear muffin tin orbital (FP-LMTO) calculations within the density functional theory and the generalized gradient approximation. The analysis of band structures, density of states, total energy, exchange interactions and magnetic moments reveals that both the alloys may exhibit a half-metallic ferromagnetism character. The value of calculated magnetic moment per Fe impurity atom is found to be 4 μ_B. Moreover, we found that p-d hybridization reduces the local magnetic moment of Fe from its free space charge value of 4 μ_B and produces small local magnetic moments on Cd and S sites.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies of Yb14MnSb11 and Yb14ZnSb11

Measurements of core and valence electronic states of single crystals of the rare earth transition metal Zintl phases Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁ and Yb₁₄ZnSb₁₁ were performed using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy station of Beamline 7 at the Advanced Light Source. Sample surfaces of Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁ and Yb₁₄ZnSb₁₁ were measured as received, after Ar⁺ ion bombardment, and after cleaving in situ. The single crystal structure of Yb₁₄ZnSb₁₁ is also reported. Both compounds are air-sensitive and show Yb³⁺ due to surface oxidation. In the case of Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁, there is no evidence for Yb³⁺ that would be intrinsic to the sample, consistent with previously reported X-ray magnetic circular dichroism studies. Detailed analyses of the Yb₁₄ZnSb₁₁ surfaces reveal a significant contribution of both Yb³⁺ and Yb²⁺ 4f states in the valence band region. This result is predicted for the Zn analog by Zintl counting rules and support the mixed valency of Yb for Yb₁₄ZnSb₁₁. Further detailed analysis of the core and valence band structure of both Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁ and Yb₁₄ZnSb₁₁ is presented.     

Peculiarities of the electronic transport in Co2CrAl and Co2CrGa half-metallic ferromagnets

We present results on the transport properties of the half-metallic ferromagnetic Heusler alloys Co₂CrAl and Co₂CrGa in the temperature range from 4 to 900 K. The peculiarities of the resistivity and the absolute differential thermoelectric power are considered within a two-current model of conductivity, taking into account the energy gap at the Fermi level in the electronic spectrum of alloys for electrons with spin opposite to the direction of the magnetization vector.     

Half-metallic antiferromagnetism in the ordered Cr1 − xCaxSb alloy from first-principles calculations

Compared to half-metallic ferromagnets, half-metallic antiferromagnets (precisely called half-metallic fully compensated ferrimagnets) are more promising candidates for spintronic applications since their zero magnetization leads to lower stray fields and thus tiny energy losses. Using the first-principles calculations, we have systematically investigated the electronic and magnetic properties of the ordered Cr_1 − xCa_xSb alloy. It is found that Cr_1 − xCa_xSb with x=0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 all are half-metals like zinc-blende CrSb and CaSb. Interestingly, Cr_0.25Ca_0.75Sb is a half-metallic antiferromagnet with complete spin polarization, and the half-metallic antiferromagnetism is robust against the lattice compression and expansion and the choice of electronic exchange and correlation functional.