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).