In order to search for promising candidates for spintronic applications, this paper systematically studies three ternary compounds based on Mn5Ce3 by using a full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the density functional theory. Through structure optimization and electronic structure calculations, it finds that Mn4FeCe3 and MnaCoCe3 have much higher spin-polarization than original intermetallic compound Mn5Ce3, although the spin polarization of MnaNiCe3 is lower than that of Mn5Ce3. The calculated result is in agreement with experiment in the case of Mn4FeCe3. Both of them can be taken as promising candidates for spintronics applications because of their high spin-polarization and compatibility with semiconductors.
We study (Ga, Mn)As diluted magnetic semiconductors in terms of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida quantum spin model in Green's function approach. Random distributions of the magnetic atoms are treated by using an analytical average of magnetic configurations. Average magnetic moments and spin excitation spectra as functions of temperature can be obtained by solving self-consistent equations, and the Curie temperature TC is given explicitly. Tc is proportional to magnetic atomic concentration, and there exists a maximum for Tc as a function of carrier concentration. Applied to (Ga, Mn)As, the theoretical results are consistent with experiment and the experimental TC can be obtained with reasonable parameters. This modelling can also be applied to other diluted magnetic semiconductors.