Ideal fully spin-polarized type-II nodal line state in half-metals X2YZ4 (X=K, Cs, Rb, Y=Cr, Cu, Z=Cl, F)

TL;DR

This paper identifies a family of half-metallic ferromagnetic compounds, X2YZ4, as ideal fully spin-polarized type-II nodal line materials with switchable topological states, stable structure, and clear surface states, advancing topological material research.

Contribution

The study introduces X2YZ4 compounds as the first ideal fully spin-polarized type-II nodal line candidates with switchable topological states and experimental feasibility.

Findings

X2YZ4 compounds are stable and synthesizable.

They host fully spin-polarized type-II nodal lines.

External magnetic fields can switch topological states.

Abstract

Lorentz-violating type-II nodal lines exhibit attracting physical properties and have been hot discussed currently. However, their investigations have been mostly limited in nonmagnetic system because of lacking ideal spin-polarized candidates with clean type-II nodal line states. Here, for the first time, we report the family of X2YZ4 (X=K, Cs, Rb, Y=Cr, Cu, Z=Cl, F) compounds are such ideal candidate materials by using the member of K2CuF4 as an example. We show the material is a ferromagnetic half-metal with weak anisotropy, which host fully spin-polarized conducting electrons. In the conducting spin channel, the band crossing form a pair of type-II nodal lines, protected by mirror symmetry. These type-II nodal lines are different with former proposed examples because they have a 100% spin polarization. In addition, we also show the material can realize switchable topological states, which can be easily controlled by external magnetic field. It is noticed that, the material: i) is stable and can be synthesized in experiments; ii) has clear magnetic structure; and iii) manifests clean type-II nodal line state and clear drumhead surface states. Therefore, the proposed X2YZ4 compounds are expected to be an excellent platform to investigate the novel physical properties of both type-II nodal line states with complete