First-principles study on the magnetic properties of six potential half-metallic ferromagnets: alkaline-earth (Ca, Sr) doped XC (X=Si, Ge, Sn)

Abstract

Six half-metallic ferromagnets X0.75Y0.25C (X=Si, Ge, Sn and Y =Ca and Sr) with zinc-blende structure, resulting from alkaline-earth (Ca, Sr) substitution for X, are predicted based on the density functional theory. The calculated total magnetic moments of these ferromagnets are all integer 2.00{\mu}B per supercell, which are one of important characters of half-metallic ferromagnets. Our calculations indicate that X0.75Y0.25C have wide spin gap and potentially have high Curie temperature. Alkaline-earth doping results in the spin-polarization and half-metallicity of these compounds. It is confirmed that the p-d exchange coupling is responsible for the ferromagnetism of X0.75Y0.25C except Sn0.75Ca0.25C.