Half-metallic magnetism of Co2CrX (X=As, Sb) Heusler compounds: An ab initio study

In this study, we present the electronic, magnetic, and structural properties of two novel half-metallic full-Heusler compounds, Co₂CrAs and Co₂CrSb, in cubic L2₁ geometry. The calculations are based on the density functional theory within plane-wave pseudopotential method and spin-polarized generalized gradient approximation of the exchange-correlation functional. The electronic band structures and density of states of the systems indicate half-metallic behavior with vanishing electronic density of states of minority spins at Fermi level, which yields perfect spin polarization. The calculated magnetic moments of both systems in L2₁ structure are 5.00 μ_B, which are largely localized on the chromium site. The energy gaps in minority spin states are restricted by the 3d-states of cobalt atoms on two different sublattices. The formation enthalpies for both structures are negative indicating stability of these systems against decomposition into stable solid compounds.