Structure and properties of CoMnSb in the context of half-metallic ferromagnetism
Although its X-ray powder diffraction patterns show a superstructure, the compound CoMnSb, like the well-known half-Heusler alloy NiMnSb, is often referred to the category of half-metallic ferromagnets with $C{1}_{b}$ structure. Our study assigns CoMnSb to space group $Fm\overline{3}m$. The crystal structure of CoMnSb can be represented as an alternation of ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}\mathrm{Mn}\mathrm{Sb}$ and MnSb structural units, and, in contrast to NiMnSb, displays three Mn and two Sb positions in the elementary cell. The presence of nonequivalent antimony and manganese positions was verified using NMR and M\"ossbauer spectroscopic measurements. Band-structure calculations based on a proposed s…
Electronic, magnetic, and structural properties of the ferrimagnet Mn2CoSn
The magnetic ground state of the Heusler compound Mn${}_{2}$CoSn was predicted to be nearly half-metallic ferrimagnetic with a high spin polarization by ab initio electronic structure calculations. Mn${}_{2}$CoSn was synthesized, and the magnetic behavior of the compound was studied using a superconducting quantum interference device and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The experimental values were found to be in fair accordance with the theoretical predictions. The electronic structure and the crystal structure of Mn${}_{2}$CoSn were characterized comprehensively using x-ray powder diffraction, $^{119}\mathrm{Sn}$ M\"ossbauer spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and hard x-ray photo…