First-principles investigation of electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of FeMnSb/GaZ (Z = As or P) interfaces

Abstract

We systematically investigated the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of the FeMnSb half-Heusler alloy, its (001) surface, and its interfaces with GaAs and GaP semiconductors by using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The bulk FeMnSb reveals its half-metallic ferrimagnetism with 100% spin-polarization. Extending this study to the (001) surface, we uncover distinct electronic and magnetic behaviors for Fe- and MnSb-terminated surfaces, the MnSb-terminated surface preserving the half-metallicity observed in the bulk material. Our evaluation of the interfaces exhibits positive work of separation, indicating that these interfaces are energetically favorable. The density of states analysis reveals that all interfaces exhibit a metallic nature. High spin-polarization values, particularly 97.316% for the Fe-Ga interface, suggest a substantial degree of spin-polarized current. Notably, the absorption coefficient peaks shift from the ultraviolet (UV) region in the bulk alloy to the visible region at the (001) surfaces. However, at the FeMnSb/GaAs and FeMnSb/GaP interfaces, the highest absorption peaks revert to the UV region, highlighting strong interfacial coupling effects. These results suggest the tunability of FeMnSb optical properties via surface termination and interface engineering, making it a promising candidate for spintronic and optoelectronic applications.