Ab initio calculation of strain effect on the magnetic properties of the thiogermanate [(CH3)4N]2FeGe4S10

The magnetic properties of the thiogermanate TMA(2)FeGe(4)S(10) (TMA=(CH(3))(4)N](+)), and the influence of large strain are investigated by ab initio density functional theory calculations. An analysis of the electronic structure is provided considering antiferromagnetic (AFM), ferromagnetic (FM) and nonmagnetic configurations for the thiogermanate at the equilibrium states. A small difference in total energy between the FM and AFM states suggests that the thiogermanate TMA(2)FeGe(4)S(10) may possess a low Curie temperature. Changes in electronic structure and magnetic moment of the thiogermanate under strain are closely related to the distortion of FeS(4) tetrahedral units. With the help of a simplified molecule model, we show that, while the origin of the drastic change in magnetism under high isotropic compressions mainly originates from the decrease in the Fe-S interatomic bond length, the changes in the electronic structure between - 10% and + 15% isotropic strains are mainly due to the variations of the interatomic bond angles. Little effect of shear strain on the magnetic properties is found since the FeS(4) tetrahedral units rotate under shear, hence keeping their shape.