Electron-Counting Rule in Half-Metallic Heusler Compounds

The electron-counting rule is very important to engineer new half-metallic Heusler compounds with the desired magnetic properties, understand the origin of the half-metallic band gap, and judge whether a Heusler compound has half metallicity. In this paper, we will summarize the electron-counting rule and the origin of the half-metallic band gap in half-metallic Heusler compounds by several typical materials. Finally, a simple chart is achieved to illustrate all the electron-counting rules and the origin of the half-metallic band gap.