Structural and Magnetic Properties of Co₂MnGe Heusler Alloy Films

Abstract

Co₂MnGe is a full-Heusler alloy with L2₁ structure, theoretically predicted to be a half-metallic ferromagnet. In this paper the structural and magnetic properties of Co₂MnGe films with a Cr buffer layer were investigated. The magnetization at 20 kOe of the prepared Co₂MnGe film was 750 emu/cm³. The lattice parameter of the Co₂MnGe film annealed at 400°C was 5.704 Å, which was not in agreement with the value for a bulk sample (5.743 Å), but in nearly agreement with the value calculated from first principles (5.711 Å). The magnetization at 20 kOe was 970 emu/cm³ which was in nearly agreement with the theoretical value (1002 emu/cm³).