Fe3Se4: A Possible Ferrimagnetic Half-Metal?

TL;DR

This study combines theoretical calculations and experimental measurements to suggest Fe3Se4 is a ferrimagnetic half-metal with potential for spintronic applications, showing unique electrical and magnetic properties.

Contribution

It provides the first evidence of half-metallicity in Fe3Se4 through combined density functional theory and physical-property measurements.

Findings

Predicted half-metallic ferrimagnetism in Fe3Se4.

Observed temperature-dependent magnetoresistance sign change.

Detected anomalous Hall resistance behavior below 100 K.

Abstract

Half-metallic ferromagnets show 100% spin-polarization at the Fermi level and are ideal candidates for spintronic applications. Despite the extensive research in the field, very few materials have been discovered so far. Here we present results of electronic band structure calculations based on density functional theory and extensive physical-property measurements for Fe3Se4 revealing signatures of half-metallicity. The spin-polarized electronic band structure calculations predict half-metallic ferrimagnetism for Fe3Se4. The electrical resistivity follows exponentially suppressed electron-magnon scattering mechanism in the low-temperature regime and show a magnetoresistance effect that changes the sign from negative to positive with decreasing temperature around 100 K. Other intriguing observations include the anomalous behavior of Hall resistance below 100 K and an anomalous Hall coefficient that roughly follows the \r{ho}2 behavior.