Efficient spin injector scheme based on Heusler materials

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Jul 22;107(4):047202. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.047202. Epub 2011 Jul 18.

Abstract

We present a rational design scheme intended to provide stable high spin polarization at the interfaces of the magnetoresistive junctions by fulfilling the criteria of structural and chemical compatibilities at the interface. This can be realized by joining the semiconducting and half-metallic Heusler materials with similar structures. The present first-principles calculations verify that the interface remains half-metallic if the nearest interface layers effectively form a stable Heusler material with the properties intermediately between the surrounding bulk parts. This leads to a simple rule for selecting the proper combinations.