The electronic structure and spin polarization of Co2Mn0.75(Gd, Eu)0.25Z (Z=Si, Ge, Ga, Al) quaternary Heusler alloys

Abstract

A first-principles approach is used to study the electronic and magnetic properties of Co2Mn0.75(Gd, Eu)0.25Z(Z=Si, Ge, Ga, Al) quaternary Heusler alloys. The investigation was done using the (FP-LAPW) method where the exchange-correlation potential was calculated with the frame of GGA-WC. At ambient conditions our calculated results of band structures reveal that for Co2Mn0.75(Gd, Eu)0.25Z(Z=Si, Ge) has a half-metallic (HM) band structure profile showing 100% spin polarization at the Fermi level. In contrast, Co2Mn0.75(Gd, Eu)0.25Z(Z=Ga, Al) alloys are found to be metallic. Finally, the half metallic compounds found in some structures of this series might be useful in spintronic devices.