In this paper, we report the signature of spin gapless semiconductor (SGS) in CoFeMnSi that belongs to the Heusler family. SGS is a new class of magnetic semiconductors which have a band gap for one spin subband and zero band gap for the other, and thus are useful for tunable spin transport based applications. We show various experimental evidences for SGS behavior in CoFeMnSi by carefully carrying out the transport and spin-polarization measurements. SGS behavior is also confirmed by first-principles band-structure calculations. The most stable configuration obtained by the theoretical calculation is verified by experiment. The alloy is found to crystallize in the cubic Heusler structure (LiMgPdSn type) with some amount of disorder and has a saturation magnetization of 3.7 μ B /f.u. and Curie temperature of ∼620 K. The saturation magnetization is found to follow the Slater-Pauling behavior, one of the prerequisites for SGS. Nearly-temperature-independent carrier concentration and electrical conductivity are observed from 5 to 300 K. An anomalous Hall coefficient of 162 S/cm is obtained at 5 K. Point contact Andreev reflection data have yielded the current spin-polarization value of 0.64, which is found to be robust against the structural disorder. All these properties strongly suggest SGS nature of the alloy, which is quite promising for the spintronic applications such as spin injection as it can bridge the gap between the contrasting behaviors of half-metallic ferromagnets and semiconductors.

Half-metallic ferromagnetic (HMF) materials show high spin polarization and are therefore interesting to researchers due to their possible applications in spintronic devices. In these materials, while one spin sub band has a finite density of states at the Fermi level, the other sub band has a gap. Because of their high Curie temperature (TC) and tunable electronic been reported in a few systems, which are also discussed in this review. Thus, this review presents a consolidated picture of the magnetic and spintronic properties of this important, but relatively new class of Heusler alloys. It is expected that this will stimulate further interest in these alloys, thereby paving the way for the identification of more HMF and SGS materials. As a result of this, it is expected that more efficient spintronic devices using these alloys would emerge in the near future.

Despite a plethora of materials suggested for spintronic applications, a new class of materials has emerged, namely spin gapless semiconductors (SGS) that offers potentially more advantageous properties than existing ones. These magnetic semiconductors exhibit a finite band gap for one spin channel and a closed gap for the other. Here, supported by electronicstructure calculations, we report the first experimental evidence of SGS behavior in equiatomic quaternary CoFeCrGa, having a cubic Heusler (prototype LiMgPdSn) structure but exhibiting chemical disorder (DO 3 structure). CoFeCrGa is found to transform from SGS to half-metallic phase under pressure, which is attributed to unique electronic-structure features. The saturation magnetization (M S ) obtained at 8 K agrees with the Slater-Pauling rule and the Curie temperature (T C ) is found to exceed 400 K. Carrier concentration (up to 250 K) and electrical conductivity are observed to be nearly temperature independent, prerequisites for SGS. The anomalous Hall coefficient is estimated to be 185 S/cm at 5 K.Considering the SGS properties and high T C , this material appears to be promising for spintronic applications.

We report the structure, magnetic property and spin polarization of CoFeMnGe equiatomic quaternary Heusler alloy. The alloy was found to exist in the L2 1 structure with considerable amount of DO 3 disorder. Thermal analysis result indicated the Curie temperature is about 711K without any other phase transformation up to melting temperature. The magnetization value was close to that predicted by the Slater-Pauling curve. Current spin polarization of P = 0.70 ± 0.1 was deduced using point contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) measurements. Halfmetallic trend in the resistivity has also been observed in the temperature range of 5 K to 300 K. Considering the high spin polarization and Curie temperature, this material appears to be promising for spintronic applications.Key words: Heusler alloy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, Slater-Pauling rule, Spin Polarization, Half-metal. PACS: 75.50.Bp, 75.30.Cr, 75.47.Np, 76.80.+y, 75.76 The polycrystalline bulk sample of an equiatomic CoFeMnGe (CFMG) alloy was prepared by arc melting of stoichiometric quantities of constituent elements in an inert atmosphere. The ingot was melted several times to increase the chemical homogeneity and the final weight loss was less than 1%. To increase the homogeneity, the as-cast alloy was annealed under vacuum for 14 days at 1073 K and then quenched in cold water. The crystal structure was investigated by x-ray diffraction with Cu K α radiation at room temperature. 57 FeMössbauer spectra at room temperature were recorded using a constant acceleration spectrometer with 25 mCi 57 Co(Rh) radioactive source. The spectrometer was calibrated by using natural iron foil of 25 µm before measuring the sample. The obtained spectra were analyzed using PCMOS-II least-squares fitting program. Curie temperature and the structural transition temperature (if any) were probed by using the differential thermal analysis (DTA)with a heating rate of 20 K min -1 . Magnetization measurements at 3 K and 300 K were performed by using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) attached to a physical property measurement system (PPMS, Quantum design). Current spin polarization measurements were done by using the point contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) technique. 19 Sharp Nb tips prepared by electrochemical polishing were used to make point contacts with the sample.Spin polarization of the conduction electrons was obtained by fitting the normalized conductance G(V)/G n curves to the modified Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk (BTK) model. 20 A multiple parameter least squares fitting was carried out to deduce spin polarization (P) using dimensionless interfacial scattering parameter (Z), superconducting band gap (∆) and P as variables. Fig. 1 shows the Rietveld refinement of powder XRD pattern recorded at room temperature. The lattice parameter of the alloy was found to be 5.75 Å, which is in agreement with the earlier reports on CFMG. 14 As one can see, superlattice reflections, (111) and (200), are very weak for this alloy. When Z element is from the same period of the periodic system...