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[[Image:Half metar sattar.JPG|thumb|The electronic structure of a half-metal. <math>E_f</math> is the [[Fermi level]], <math>N(E)</math> is the [[density of states]] for spin down (on the left) and spin up (on the right). In this case, the half-metal is conducting in the minority spin channel.]]
[[Image:Half metar sattar.JPG|thumb|The electronic structure of a half-metal. <math>E_f</math> is the [[Fermi level]], <math>N(E)</math> is the [[density of states]] for spin down (on the left) and spin up (on the right). In this case, the half-metal is conducting in the minority spin channel.]]


A '''half-metal''' is any substance that acts as a [[Electrical conductor|conductor]] to [[electron]]s of one [[Spin (particle physics)|spin]] orientation, but as an [[Electrical insulation|insulator]] or [[semiconductor]] to those of the opposite orientation. Although all half-metals are [[Ferromagnetism|ferromagnetic]] (or [[Ferrimagnetism|ferrimagnetic]]), most ferromagnets are not half-metals. Many of the known examples of half-metals are [[oxide]]s, [[sulfide]]s, or [[Heusler alloy]]s.<ref name=COEY02>{{cite journal |first1=J.M.D. |last1=Coey |first2=M.|last2=Venkatesan|year=2002 |title=Half-metallic ferromagnetism: Example of CrO2 |journal=Journal of Applied Physics |volume=91 |issue=10 |pages=8345–50 |doi=10.1063/1.1447879 |bibcode = 2002JAP....91.8345C }}</ref> Types of half-metallic compounds theoretically predicted so far include some Heusler alloys, such as Co2FeSi, NiMnSb, and PtMnSb; some Si-containing half–Heusler alloys with Curie temperatures over 600K, such as NiCrSi and PdCrSi; some transition-metal oxides, including rutile structured CrO2; some perovskites, such as LaMnO3 and SeMnO3; and a few more simply structured zincblende(ZB) compounds, including CrAs and superlattices. NiMnSb and CrO2 have been experimentally determined to be half-metals at very low temperatures.
A '''half-metal''' is any substance that acts as a [[Electrical conductor|conductor]] to [[electron]]s of one [[Spin (physics)|spin]] orientation, but as an [[Electrical insulation|insulator]] or [[semiconductor]] to those of the opposite orientation. Although all half-metals are [[Ferromagnetism|ferromagnetic]] (or [[Ferrimagnetism|ferrimagnetic]]), most ferromagnets are not half-metals. Many of the known examples of half-metals are [[oxide]]s, [[sulfide]]s, or [[Heusler alloy]]s.<ref name=COEY02>{{cite journal |first1=J.M.D. |last1=Coey |first2=M.|last2=Venkatesan|year=2002 |title=Half-metallic ferromagnetism: Example of CrO2 |journal=Journal of Applied Physics |volume=91 |issue=10 |pages=8345–50 |doi=10.1063/1.1447879 |bibcode = 2002JAP....91.8345C }}</ref> Types of half-metallic compounds theoretically predicted so far include some Heusler alloys, such as Co2FeSi, NiMnSb, and PtMnSb; some Si-containing half–Heusler alloys with Curie temperatures over 600K, such as NiCrSi and PdCrSi; some transition-metal oxides, including rutile structured CrO2; some perovskites, such as LaMnO3 and SeMnO3; and a few more simply structured zincblende(ZB) compounds, including CrAs and superlattices. NiMnSb and CrO2 have been experimentally determined to be half-metals at very low temperatures.


In half-metals, the valence band for one spin orientation is partially filled while there is a gap in the density of states for the other spin orientation. This results in conducting behavior for only electrons in the first spin orientation. In some half-metals, the majority spin channel is the conducting one while in others the minority channel is.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
In half-metals, the valence band for one spin orientation is partially filled while there is a gap in the density of states for the other spin orientation. This results in conducting behavior for only electrons in the first spin orientation. In some half-metals, the majority spin channel is the conducting one while in others the minority channel is.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

Revision as of 23:52, 14 June 2023

The electronic structure of a half-metal. is the Fermi level, is the density of states for spin down (on the left) and spin up (on the right). In this case, the half-metal is conducting in the minority spin channel.

A half-metal is any substance that acts as a conductor to electrons of one spin orientation, but as an insulator or semiconductor to those of the opposite orientation. Although all half-metals are ferromagnetic (or ferrimagnetic), most ferromagnets are not half-metals. Many of the known examples of half-metals are oxides, sulfides, or Heusler alloys.[1] Types of half-metallic compounds theoretically predicted so far include some Heusler alloys, such as Co2FeSi, NiMnSb, and PtMnSb; some Si-containing half–Heusler alloys with Curie temperatures over 600K, such as NiCrSi and PdCrSi; some transition-metal oxides, including rutile structured CrO2; some perovskites, such as LaMnO3 and SeMnO3; and a few more simply structured zincblende(ZB) compounds, including CrAs and superlattices. NiMnSb and CrO2 have been experimentally determined to be half-metals at very low temperatures.

In half-metals, the valence band for one spin orientation is partially filled while there is a gap in the density of states for the other spin orientation. This results in conducting behavior for only electrons in the first spin orientation. In some half-metals, the majority spin channel is the conducting one while in others the minority channel is.[citation needed]

Half-metals were first described in 1983, as an explanation for the electrical properties of manganese-based Heusler alloys.[2]

Some notable half-metals are chromium(IV) oxide, magnetite, and lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO),[1] as well as chromium arsenide. Half-metals have attracted some interest for their potential use in spintronics.

References

  1. ^ a b Coey, J.M.D.; Venkatesan, M. (2002). "Half-metallic ferromagnetism: Example of CrO2". Journal of Applied Physics. 91 (10): 8345–50. Bibcode:2002JAP....91.8345C. doi:10.1063/1.1447879.
  2. ^ de Groot, R. A.; Mueller, F. M.; Engen, P. G. van; Buschow, K. H. J. (20 June 1983). "New Class of Materials: Half-Metallic Ferromagnets" (PDF). Physical Review Letters. 50 (25): 2024–2027. Bibcode:1983PhRvL..50.2024D. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.50.2024. hdl:11370/e3946f6b-8acb-4e0a-80cf-735506203f25.

Further reading