Investigation of structural, electronic, magnetic and mechanical properties of a new series of equiatomic quaternary Heusler alloys CoYCrZ (Z = Si, Ge, Ga, Al): A DFT study

Abstract

The structural stability, band structure, density of states (DOS), magnetic and mechanical properties of Co-based equiatomic quaternary Heusler alloys (EQHAs) CoYCrZ (Z = Si, Ge, Ga, Al) are examined by employing 1st principle calculations in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) as embedded in Wien2k code. The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of Perdew-Burke Ernzehrof (PBE) is used for all these calculations. The lattice constants obtained by the optimization of structures and Type-II is found the most stable configuration for all alloys. The band diagrams and DOS calculations show that all these materials possess half metallic (HM) character because they have band gap in minority spin channel. The origin of band gap has been explained which is due to the robust d-d hybridization among transition metals (TMs). The obtained magnetic moments (MMs) are in accordance to the Slater-Pauling rule. The considered materials have high MMs and all alloys showed 100% spin polarization (SP). Curie temperature has also been calculated and reported for all these alloys. In order to check the mechanical stability, the calculations for elastic constants and other mechanical parameters are carried out which have revealed that all alloys are stable and have ductile nature. All the considered alloys in this study are reported for the first time and no data is available for comparison. It is envisaged these alloys are suitable for spintronic applications as in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), spin valves, and spin injectors etc.