Above-room-temperature ferromagnetism in half-metallic Heusler compounds NiCrP, NiCrSe, NiCrTe and NiVAs: A first-principles study

Abstract

We study the interatomic exchange interactions and Curie temperatures in half-metallic semi Heusler compounds NiCrZ (Z=P, Se, Te) and NiVAs. The study is performed within the framework of density functional theory. The calculation of exchange parameters is based on the frozen-magnon approach. It is shown that the exchange interactions in NiCrZ vary strongly depending on the Z constituent. The Curie temperature, Tc, is calculated within the mean field and random phase approximations. The difference between two estimations is related to the properties of the exchange interactions. The predicted Curie temperatures of all four systems are considerably higher than room temperature. The relation between the half-metallicity and the value of the Curie temperature is discussed. The combination of a high spin-polarization of charge carriers and a high Curie temperature makes these Heusler alloys interesting candidates for spintronics applications.

6 pages, 3 figures

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Cited by in corpus (7)

• Half-metallic ferromagnets: From band structure to many-body effects
• Exchange interactions and temperature dependence of the magnetization in half--metallic Heusler alloys
• Role of the conduction electrons in mediating exchange interactions in Heusler alloys
• Half-metallicity versus Symmetry in Pt, Ni and Co-based Half Heusler Alloys: A First-principles Calculation
• Ab-initio determined electronic and magnetic properties of half-metallic NiCrSi and NiMnSi Heusler alloys; the role of interfaces and defects
• Magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Fe5PB2 and its alloys with Co and 5d elements: a combined first-principles and experimental study
• Ab-initio calculation of effective exchange interactions, spin waves, and Curie temperature in L2_1- and L1_2-type local moment ferromagnets