Multilayer heterostructures of magnetic Heusler and binary compounds from first principles

Abstract

Employing first-principles state-of-the-art electronic structure calculations, we study a series of multilayer heterostructures composed of ferro/ferrimagnetic half-metallic Heusler compounds and binary compounds presenting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. We relax these heterostructures and study both their electronic and magnetic properties. In most studied cases the Heusler spacer keeps a large value of spin-polarization at the Fermi level even for ultrathin films which attends the maximum value of 100% in the case of the Mn2VSi/MnSi multilayer. Our results pave the way both experimentally and theoretically towards the growth of such multilayer heterostructures and their incorporation in spintronic/magnetoelectronic devices.