Interface Characterization of Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane Spin Valves Based on Spin Gapless Semiconductor Mn2CoAl

Employing the first-principles calculations within density functional theory (DFT) combined with the nonequilibrium Green’s function, we investigated the interfacial electronic, magnetic, and spin transport properties of Mn2CoAl/Ag/Mn2CoAl current-perpendicular-to-plane spin valves (CPP-SV...

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Main Authors: Ming-Sheng Wei, Zhou Cui, Xin Ruan, Qi-Wen Zhou, Xiao-Yi Fu, Zhen-Yan Liu, Qian-Ya Ma, Yu Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-08-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/8/1348
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author Ming-Sheng Wei
Zhou Cui
Xin Ruan
Qi-Wen Zhou
Xiao-Yi Fu
Zhen-Yan Liu
Qian-Ya Ma
Yu Feng
author_facet Ming-Sheng Wei
Zhou Cui
Xin Ruan
Qi-Wen Zhou
Xiao-Yi Fu
Zhen-Yan Liu
Qian-Ya Ma
Yu Feng
author_sort Ming-Sheng Wei
collection DOAJ
description Employing the first-principles calculations within density functional theory (DFT) combined with the nonequilibrium Green’s function, we investigated the interfacial electronic, magnetic, and spin transport properties of Mn2CoAl/Ag/Mn2CoAl current-perpendicular-to-plane spin valves (CPP-SV). Due to the interface rehybridization, the magnetic moment of the interface atom gets enhanced. Further analysis on electronic structures reveals that owing to the interface states, the interface spin polarization is decreased. The largest interface spin polarization (ISP) of 78% belongs to the MnCoT-terminated interface, and the ISP of the MnMnT1-terminated interface is also as high as 45%. The transmission curves of Mn2CoAl/Ag/Mn2CoAl reveal that the transmission coefficient at the Fermi level in the majority spin channel is much higher than that in the minority spin channel. Furthermore, the calculated magnetoresistance (MR) ratio of the MnCoT-terminated interface reaches up to 2886%, while that of the MnMnT1-terminated interface is only 330%. Therefore, Mn2CoAl/Ag/Mn2CoAl CPP-SV with an MnCo-terminated interface structure has a better application in a spintronics device.
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spelling doaj.art-167ede7c236844328c476a096fef93382022-12-21T17:33:12ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172018-08-0188134810.3390/app8081348app8081348Interface Characterization of Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane Spin Valves Based on Spin Gapless Semiconductor Mn2CoAlMing-Sheng Wei0Zhou Cui1Xin Ruan2Qi-Wen Zhou3Xiao-Yi Fu4Zhen-Yan Liu5Qian-Ya Ma6Yu Feng7School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaEmploying the first-principles calculations within density functional theory (DFT) combined with the nonequilibrium Green’s function, we investigated the interfacial electronic, magnetic, and spin transport properties of Mn2CoAl/Ag/Mn2CoAl current-perpendicular-to-plane spin valves (CPP-SV). Due to the interface rehybridization, the magnetic moment of the interface atom gets enhanced. Further analysis on electronic structures reveals that owing to the interface states, the interface spin polarization is decreased. The largest interface spin polarization (ISP) of 78% belongs to the MnCoT-terminated interface, and the ISP of the MnMnT1-terminated interface is also as high as 45%. The transmission curves of Mn2CoAl/Ag/Mn2CoAl reveal that the transmission coefficient at the Fermi level in the majority spin channel is much higher than that in the minority spin channel. Furthermore, the calculated magnetoresistance (MR) ratio of the MnCoT-terminated interface reaches up to 2886%, while that of the MnMnT1-terminated interface is only 330%. Therefore, Mn2CoAl/Ag/Mn2CoAl CPP-SV with an MnCo-terminated interface structure has a better application in a spintronics device.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/8/1348Heusler alloyspin gapless semiconductorelectronic structurespin transport
spellingShingle Ming-Sheng Wei
Zhou Cui
Xin Ruan
Qi-Wen Zhou
Xiao-Yi Fu
Zhen-Yan Liu
Qian-Ya Ma
Yu Feng
Interface Characterization of Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane Spin Valves Based on Spin Gapless Semiconductor Mn2CoAl
Applied Sciences
Heusler alloy
spin gapless semiconductor
electronic structure
spin transport
title Interface Characterization of Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane Spin Valves Based on Spin Gapless Semiconductor Mn2CoAl
title_full Interface Characterization of Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane Spin Valves Based on Spin Gapless Semiconductor Mn2CoAl
title_fullStr Interface Characterization of Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane Spin Valves Based on Spin Gapless Semiconductor Mn2CoAl
title_full_unstemmed Interface Characterization of Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane Spin Valves Based on Spin Gapless Semiconductor Mn2CoAl
title_short Interface Characterization of Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane Spin Valves Based on Spin Gapless Semiconductor Mn2CoAl
title_sort interface characterization of current perpendicular to plane spin valves based on spin gapless semiconductor mn2coal
topic Heusler alloy
spin gapless semiconductor
electronic structure
spin transport
url http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/8/1348
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