Electronic structure, magnetism, and transport properties of the Heusler alloy Fe2CrAl

Abstract We report the electronic band structure, magnetism, and transport properties of the Heusler compound Fe 2 CrAl. The band-structure calculation for Fe 2 CrAl at the experimental lattice constant does not show the half-metallicity. The magnetism measurements show that the saturated moment at 5 K and the Curie temperature are 1.75  μ B per formula unit and 234 K, respectively. The temperature dependence of the magnetization follows the spin-wave behavior at low temperature. The electrical resistivity shows a semiconducting-like behavior, which can be explained by the electronic band-structure calculations. The dependence of the magnetoresistance on the applied field is related to the competition between the effect of the Lorentz force and the extinction of inelastic s–d–s scattering.