Ab initio research on a new type of half-metallic double perovskites, A2CrMO6 (A = IVA group elements; M = Mo, Re and W)

Abstract

The research based on density functional theory was carried out using generalized gradient approximation (GGA) for full-structural optimization and the addition of the correlation effect (GGA + U (Coulomb parameter)) in a double perovskite structure, A2BB'O6. According to the similar valance electrons between IIA(s2) and IVA(p2), IVA group elements instead of alkaline-earth elements settled on the A-site ion position with fixed BB' combinations as CrM (M = Mo, Re and W). The ferrimagnetic half-metallic (HM-FiM) properties can be attributed to the p-d hybridization between the Crd-Mp and the double exchange. All the compounds can be half-metallic (HM) materials, except Si2CrMoO6, Ge2CrMo and Ge2CrReO6, because the strong-correlation correction should be considered. For M = W, only A = Sn and Pb are possible candidates as HM materials. Nevertheless, an examination of the structural stability is needed, because Si, Ge, Sn and Pb are quite different from Sr. All compounds are stable, except for the Si-based double perovskite structure.