First-principles calculations to investigate magnetic and thermodynamic properties of new multifunctional full-Heusler alloy Co2TaGa

Abstract

The structural, elastic, electronic, magnetic and thermodynamic properties of Co2TaGa full-Heusler alloy are investigated using density functional theory-based full-potential linearized augmented plane waves method. Our results present Co2TaGa full-Heusler in CuHg2Ti-type structure FM phase that is mechanically and dynamically stable at pressure. The negative formation energy of Co2TaGa is -1.516 eV that can be synthesized experimentally. The electronic properties of 3d transition metal-based full-Heusler compound Co2TaGa are calculated within Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation. Co2TaGa is predicted to be half-metallic ferrimagnet with an indirect band gap and 100% spin polarization. The calculated total magnetic moment is 2 mu(B), which is mainly determined by Co partial moment, and total spin magnetic moment is in conformity with Slater-Pauling rule Mt that gives a simple function of valence electrons number, Zt, formulated as Mt = Zt - 18.