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

A first-principles approach is used to study the electronic and magnetic properties of Co2Mn0.75(Gd, Eu)(0.25)Z(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)(0.25)Z(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)(0.25)Z(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. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.