Prediction of half-metallic ferrimagnetic quadruple perovskites ACu3Fe2Re2O12 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb, Sc, Y, La) with high Curie temperatures

A- and B-site ordered quadruple perovskites with the chemical formula AA(3)'B2B2'O-12 can form with 1:3 ratio at the A site. A unique feature of this specially ordered perovskite is that three different atomic sites (A', B, and B' sites) can all accommodate magnetic transition metals. As a consequence, multiple magnetic and electronic interactions can occur at A', B, and/or B' sites, giving rise to a series of intriguing physical phenomena. CaCu3Fe2Re2O12 is a good example, which shows half-metallic electronic structure, large magnetization, and a very high Curie temperature. Here we investigated a series of ferrimagnetic (FiM) compounds ACu(3)Fe(2)Re(2)O(12) (A=Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb, Sc, Y, La) by using density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations. We found that all compounds with A(2+) ions exhibit high Curie temperatures (above 405 K), and the compounds with A(3+) substitution yield even higher T-C (above 502 K). By examining interatomic exchange parameters, we found that the antiferromagnetic exchange couplings between Re and Cu as well as Re and Fe are responsible for this very high Curie temperature. For the compounds with A(3+) substitution, electron doping in bands around the Fermi level dominated by the Re ions strengthens the Re-Cu, Re-Fe, and Re-Re exchange interactions, which cause an increase in the critical temperature. Finally, we calculated the formation energies of the quadruple perovskites with respect to the possible decomposition pathways and have found that the values are reasonable for the synthesis of these compounds under the conditions of high pressure and high temperature. In summary, this work demonstrates a design strategy of enhancing the spin ordering temperature by replacing A-site nonmagnetic ions.

Automated summary

This study investigates the properties of a series of ferrimagnetic compounds ACu(3)Fe(2)Re(2)O(12) using density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations, finding that compounds with A(2+) ions exhibit high Curie temperatures, with even higher Tc for compounds with A(3+) substitution. The antiferromagnetic exchange couplings between Re and Cu, as well as Re and Fe, are found to be responsible for the very high Curie temperature. Additionally, electron doping in bands around the Fermi level dominated by Re ions strengthens the exchange interactions, leading to an increase in the critical temperature.