On the basis of the density functional calculations in combination with the supercell approach, we report on a complete study of the influences of atomic arrangement and Ni substitution for Al on the ground state structural and magnetic properties for Fe$_2$Ni$_{1+x}$Al$_{1-x}$ Heusler alloys. We discuss systematically the competition between five cubic Heusler-type structures formed by shuffles of Fe and Ni atoms to reveal routes for improving the phase stability and magnetic properties, in particular magnetocrystalline anisotropy~(MAE). We predict that in case of Fe$_2$NiAl the ground state cubic structure with alternated layers of Fe and Ni possesses the highest uniaxial MAE which twice larger than that for the tetragonal L1$_0$ FeNi. The successive Ni doping at Al sublattice leads to a change of ground state structure and to reduce of the MAE. In addition, the phase stability against the decomposition into the stable systems at finite-temperatures is discussed. All~Ni-rich Fe$_2$Ni$_{1+x}$Al$_{1-x}$ are turned to be decomposed into a dual-phase consisting of Fe$_2$NiAl and FeNi.
This work reports on first principles calculations of the electronic and magnetic structure of tetragonal Heusler compounds with the composition Rh$_2$Fe$_{x}$Co$_{1-x}$Sb ($0\leq x\leq1$). It is found that the magnetic moments increase from 2 to 3.4~$μ_B$ and the Curie temperature decreases from 500 to 464~K with increasing Fe content $x$. The $3d$ transition metals make the main contribution to the magnetic moments, whereas Rh contributes only approximately 0.2~$μ_B$ per atom, independent of the composition. The paper focuses on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the borderline compounds R…
On the basis of density functional calculations, we report on a comprehensive study of the influences of atomic arrangement and Ni substitution for Al on the ground state structural and magnetic properties for Fe$_2$Ni$_{1+x}$Al$_{1-x}$ Heusler alloys. We discuss systematically the competition between five Heusler-type structures formed by shuffles of Fe and Ni atoms and their thermodynamic stability. All~Ni-rich Fe$_2$Ni$_{1+x}$Al$_{1-x}$ tend to decompose into a dual-phase mixture consisting of Fe$_2$NiAl and~FeNi. The~successive replacement of Ni by Al leads to a change of ground state stru…
Tailoring and controlling magnetic properties is an important factor for materials design. Here, we present a case study for Ni-based Heusler compounds of the type Ni$_2$YZ with Y = Mn, Fe, Co and Z = B, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn based on first principles electronic structure calculations. These compounds are interesting since the materials properties can be quite easily tuned by composition and many of them possess a non-cubic ground state being a prerequisite for a finite magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MAE). We discuss systematically the influence of doping at the Y and Z sublattice as well of …
With a view to the design of hard magnets without rare earths we explore the possibility of large magnetocrystalline anisotropy energies in Heusler compounds that are unstable with respect to a tetragonal distortion. We consider the Heusler compounds Fe$_2$YZ with Y = (Ni, Co, Pt), and Co$_2$YZ with Y = (Ni, Fe, Pt) where, in both cases, Z = (Al, Ga, Ge, In, Sn). We find that for the Co$_2$NiZ, Co$_2$PtZ, and Fe$_2$PtZ families the cubic phase is always, at $T=0$, unstable with respect to a tetragonal distortion, while, in contrast, for the Fe$_2$NiZ and Fe$_2$CoZ families this is the case for…
Magnetocrystalline anisotropy at Heusler alloy$|$MgO interfaces have been studied using first principles calculations. It is found that Co terminated Co$_{2}$FeAl$|$MgO interfaces show perpendicular magnetic anisotropy up to 1.31 mJ/m$^2$, while those with FeAl termination exhibit in-plane magnetic anisotropy. Atomic layer resolved analysis indicates that the origin of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Co$_{2}$FeAl$|$MgO interfaces can be attributed to the out-of-plane orbital contributions of interfacial Co atoms. At the same time, Co$_{2}$MnGe and Co$_{2}$MnSi interfaced with MgO tend to …
We report the magnetotransport properties of ferromagnet (FM)/antiferromagnet (AFM) Fe$_2$CrSi/Ru$_2$MnGe epitaxial bilayers using current-in-plane configurations. Above the critical thickness of the Ru$_2$MnGe layer to induce exchange bias, symmetric and asymmetric curves were observed in response to the direction of FM magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Because each magnetoresistance curve showed full and partial AFM rotation, the magnetoresistance curves imply the impact of the Fe$_2$CrSi magnetocrystalline anisotropy to govern the AFM rotation. The maximum magnitude of the angular-dependent re…
In this work, high throughput DFT calculations are performed on the alkali metal-based half Heusler alloys; LiY$_p$Y$^\prime_{1-p}$S (Y, Y$^\prime$ = V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and $\mathit{p}$ = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1). Starting with 243 structural replica, systematic filters are designed to select the energetically and vibrationally favorable compositions by considering the contributions stemming from the magnetic alignments of the ions. Thereby, 26 dynamically stable magnetic compositions are identified, of which 10 are found to be ferromagnetic (FM), 4 antiferromagnetic (AFM) and 12 ferrimagneti…
A comprehensive study of the total energy of manganese-rich Heusler compounds using density functional theory is presented. Starting from a large set of cubic parent systems, the response to tetragonal distortions is studied in detail. We single out the systems that remain cubic from those that most likely become tetragonal. The driving force of the tetragonal distortion and its effect on the magnetic properties, especially where they deviate from the Slater--Pauling rule, as well as the trends in the Curie temperatures, are highlighted. By means of partial densities of states, the electronic …
We investigate the structural stability and magnetic properties of cubic, tetragonal and hexagonal phases of Mn3Z (Z=Ga, Sn and Ge) Heusler compounds using first-principles density-functional theory. We propose that the cubic phase plays an important role as an intermediate state in the phase transition from the hexagonal to the tetragonal phases. Consequently, Mn3Ga and Mn3Ge behave differently from Mn3Sn, because the relative energies of the cubic and hexagonal phases are different. This result agrees with experimental observations from these three compounds. The weak ferromagnetism of the h…
We determine experimentally the spin structure of half-metallic Co2FeAl0.4Si0.6 Heusler alloy elements using magnetic microscopy. Following magnetic saturation, the dominant magnetic states consist of quasi-uniform configurations, where a strong influence from the magnetocrystalline anisotropy is visible. Heating experiments show the stability of the spin configuration of domain walls in confined geometries up to 800 K. The switching temperature for the transition from transverse to vortex walls in ring elements is found to increase with ring width, an effect attributed to structural changes a…
We report first-principles investigations of magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MCAE) oscillations as a function of capping layer thickness in Heusler alloy Co\textsubscript{2}FeAl/Ta heterostructures. Substantial oscillation is observed in FeAl-interface structure. According to $k$-space and band-decomposed charge density analyses, this oscillation is mainly attributed to the Fermi-energy-vicinal quantum well states (QWS) which are confined between Co\textsubscript{2}FeAl/Ta interface and Ta/vacuum surface. The smaller oscillation magnitude in the Co-interface structure can be explained by…
Recent first-principles calculations have predicted Mn$_{2}$Ni{\it X} ({\it X}=Al, Ga, In, Sn) alloys to be magnetic shape memory alloys. Moreover, experiments on Mn$_{2}$NiGa and Mn$_{2}$NiSn suggest that the alloys deviate from the perfect inverse Heusler arrangement and that there is chemical disorder at the sublattices with tetrahedral symmetry. In this work, we investigate the effects of such chemical disorder on phase stabilities and magnetic properties using first-principles electronic structure methods. We find that except Mn$_{2}$NiAl, all other alloys show signatures of martensitic t…
Materials suitable for magnonic crystals demand low magnetic damping and long spin wave (SW) propagation distance. In this context Co based Heusler compounds are ideal candidates for magnonic based applications. In this work, antidot arrays (with different shapes) of epitaxial $\mathrm{Co}_2\mathrm{Fe}_{0.4}\mathrm{Mn}_{0.6}\mathrm{Si}$ (CFMS) Heusler alloy thin films have been prepared using e-beam lithography and sputtering technique. Magneto-optic Kerr effect and ferromagnetic resonance analysis have confirmed the presence of dominant cubic and moderate uniaxial magnetic anisotropies in the…
Perpendicular magnetization is essential for high-density memory application using magnetic materials. High-spin polarization of conduction electrons is also required for realizing large electric signals from spin-dependent transport phenomena. Heusler alloy is a well-known material class showing the half-metallic electronic structure. However, its cubic lattice nature favors in-plane magnetization and thus minimizes the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), in general. This study focuses on an inverse-type Heusler alloy, Mn$_{2-δ}$CoGa$_{1+δ}$ (MCG) with a small off-stoichiometry ($δ$) , w…
Influence of chemical ordering on magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetoelastic properties in Weyl magnetic semimetal Co2MnGa thin films
Institute of Physics PAS（波兰科学院物理研究所）；Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University（东北大学物质材料研究所）；Innovative Functional Materials Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology（产业技术综合研究所创新功能材料研究所）；Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency（日本原子能机构先进科学研究中心）
In the present work, the aspects of magnetic and structural properties of Ni-Mn-Ga alloys are described in the framework of fist-principles approach and mapped into ternary composition diagrams. The stable atomic arrangement and magnetic alignment for compositions with cubic austenite and tetragonal martensite structures across phase diagrams are predicted. It is shown that Ni- and Ga-rich compositions possess the regular Heusler structure in contrast to Mn-rich compositions with inverse Heusler structure as favorable one. Compositions with unstable austenite structure are concentrated in the …
The equiatomic quaternary Heusler alloy CoFeCrAl is a candidate material for spin-gapless semiconductors (SGSs). However, to date, there have been no experimental attempts at fabricating a junction device. This paper reports a fully epitaxial (001)-oriented MgO barrier magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) with CoFeCrAl electrodes grown on a Cr buffer. X-ray and electron diffraction measurements show that the (001) CoFeCrAl electrode films with atomically flat surfaces have a $B2$-ordered phase. The saturation magnetization is 380 emu/cm$^3$, almost the same as the value given by the Slater--Pauling-…
Employing {\it ab initio} electronic structure calculations we extensively study ternary Heusler compounds having the chemical formula X$_2$X$^\prime$Z, where X = Mn, Fe or Co; Z = Al or Si; and X$^\prime$ changes along the row of 4$d$ transition metals. A comprehensive overview of these compounds, addressing the trends in structural, electronic, magnetic properties and Curie temperature is presented here along with the search for new materials for spintronics applications. A simple picture of hybridization of the $d$ orbitals of the neighboring atoms is used to explain the origin of the half-…
Skyrmions in non-centrosymmetric magnets are vortex-like spin arrangements, viewed as potential candidates for information storage devices. The crystal structure and non-collinear magnetic structure together with magnetic and spin-orbit interactions define the symmetry of the Skyrmion structure. We outline the importance of these parameters in the Heusler compound Mn1.4PtSn which hosts antiskyrmions, a vortex-like spin texture related to skyrmions.1 We overcome the challenge of growing large micro-twin-free single crystals of Mn1.4PtSn which has proved to be the bottleneck for realizing bulk s…
In this work, we provide important insights into the evolution of half-metallicity in quaternary Heusler alloys. Employing {\it ab initio} electronic structure methods we study 18 quaternary Heusler compounds having the chemical formula CoX$^\prime$Y$^\prime$Al, where Y$^\prime$ = Mn, Fe; and X$^\prime$ a 4$d$ element. Along with the search for new materials for spintronics applications, the trends in structural, electronic, magnetic properties and Curie temperature were investigated. We have made comparative studies with the compounds in the quaternary series CoX$^{\prime}$Y$^{\prime}$Si with…
The development of high-density magnetic recording media is limited by the superparamagnetism in very small ferromagnetic crystals. Hard magnetic materials with strong perpendicular anisotropy offer stability and high recording density. To overcome the difficulty of writing media with a large coercivity, heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) has been developed, rapidly heating the media to the Curie temperature Tc before writing, followed by rapid cooling. Requirements are a suitable Tc, coupled with anisotropic thermal conductivity and hard magnetic properties. Here we introduce Rh2CoSb as …
The cubic Heusler alloy Ru$_{2-x}$Mn$_{1+x}$Al is grown in thin film form on MgO and MgAl$_2$O$_4$ substrates. It is a highly spin-polarised ferrimagnetic metal, with weak magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Although structurally and chemically similar to $\text{Mn}_2\text{Ru}_x\text{Ga}$, it does not exhibit ferrimagnetic compensation, or large magneto galvanic effects. The differences are attributed to a combination of atomic order and the hybridisation with the group 13 element Al or Ga. The spin polarisation is around 50 to 60 %. There is a gap in the density of states just above the Fermi leve…
Heusler alloys that undergo martensitic transformation in ferromagnetic state are of increasing scientific and technological interest. These alloys show large magnetic field induced strains upon martensitic phase change thus making it a potential candidate for magneto-mechanical actuation. The crystal structure of martensite is an important factor that affects both the magnetic anisotropy and mechanical properties of such materials. Moreover, the local chemical arrangement of constituent atoms is vital in determining the overall physical properties. Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{35}$In$_{15}$ is one such ferr…
Epitaxial $\mathrm{Co_2MnSi}$ with intrinsic magnetocrystalline anisotropy as a route to bias-field-free nonlinear half-metal magnonics at the nanoscale
Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau（莱茵兰-普法尔茨技术大学凯泽斯劳滕-兰道）；Université de Lorraine（洛林大学）
Enhancement of local magnetic ordering temperature due to non-magnetic disorder in anti-Heusler alloy Al$_2$MnCu
Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics（萨哈核物理研究所）；M.V. College（M.V.学院）；Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation（澳大利亚核科学与技术组织）；The University of Sydney（悉尼大学）；Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Dubai Campus（比拉理工科学pilani校区迪拜分校）；Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus（比拉理工科学pilani校区海德拉巴分校）
Materials based on the Sm-Co system exhibit remarkable magnetic performance due to their high Curie temperature, large saturation magnetization, and strong magnetic anisotropy, which are the result of the electronic structure in Co and Sm and their arrangement in the hexagonal lattice. In this paper we show, using first-principles calculations, mean-field theory, and atomistic Monte Carlo simulations that slight modifications of the SmCo5 crystal structure, induced by strain or partial substitution of Sm by Ce, change the exchange interaction energy and increase the magnetocrystalline anisotro…
XX'YZ equiatomic quaternary Heusler alloys (EQHA's) containing Cr, Al, and select Group IVB elements ($\textit{M}$ = Ti, Zr, Hf) and Group VB elements ($\textit{N}$ = V, Nb, Ta) were studied using state-of-the-art density functional theory to determine their effectiveness in spintronic applications. Each alloy is classified based on their spin-dependent electronic structure as a half-metal, a spin gapless semiconductor, or a spin filter material. We predict several new fully-compensated ferrimagnetic spin filter materials with small electronic gaps and large exchange splitting allowing for rob…
Correlating 3D arrangements of atoms and defects with material properties and functionality forms the core of several scientific disciplines. Here, we determined the 3D coordinates of 6,569 iron and 16,627 platinum atoms in a model iron-platinum nanoparticle system to correlate 3D atomic arrangements and chemical order/disorder with material properties at the single-atom level. We identified rich structural variety and chemical order/disorder including 3D atomic composition, grain boundaries, anti-phase boundaries, anti-site point defects and swap defects. We show for the first time that exper…
The influence of epitaxial strain on uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of Co$_{2}$FeSi (CFS) and Co$_{2}$MnSi (CMS) Heusler alloy thin films grown on (001) SrTiO$_3$ (STO) and MgO is reported. The in-plane biaxial strain is susceptible to tune by varying the thickness of the films on STO, while on MgO the films show in-plane easy axis for magnetization (\overrightarrow{M}) irrespective of their thickness. A variational analysis of magnetic free energy functional within the Stoner-Wohlfarth coherent rotation model with out-of-plane uniaxial anisotropy for the films on STO showed the presence of magn…
We report on the formation of the dilute $Pd_{1-x}Fe_x$ compositions with tunable magnetic properties under an ion-beam implantation of epitaxial Pd thin films. Binary $Pd_{1-x}Fe_x$ alloys with a mean iron content $x$ of $0.025$, $0.035$ or $0.075$ were obtained by the implantation of $40 keV$ $Fe^+$ ions into the palladium films on MgO (001) substrate to the doses of $0.5\cdot10^{16}, 1.0\cdot10^{16}$ and $3.0\cdot10^{16}$ $ions/cm^2$, respectively. Structural and magnetic studies have shown that iron atoms occupy regular fcc-lattice Pd-sites without the formation of any secondary crystallog…
The structural stability and electronic properties of the ternary intermetallic compounds NiSnM (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) and the closely related Heusler compounds Ni$_2$SnM are discussed using the results of ab initio pseudopotential total energy and band-structure calculations performed with a plane wave basis set using the conjugate gradients algorithm. The results characterize the lowest energy phase of NiSnM compounds, with a SnM rocksalt structure sublattice, as narrow gap semiconductors with indirect gaps near 0.5 eV. Two other atomic arrangements for NiSnM in the MgAgAs structure result in ener…
