Effect of chemical disorder on NiMnSb investigated by appearance potential spectroscopy: an experimental and theoretical study

TLDR: In this article, the influence of chemical disorder on the unoccupied electronic density of states of NiMnSb(0 0 1) was studied using the ab initio coherent potential approximation method.

Abstract: The half-Heusler alloy NiMnSb is one of the local-moment ferromagnets with unique properties for future applications. Band structure calculations exclusively predict majority bands at the Fermi level, thus indicating 100% spin polarization there. For the development of functional materials, chemical disorder has to be considered quantitatively. The magnetization, spin polarization and electronic structure are expected to be sensitive to structural and stoichiometric changes. We studied the influence of chemical disorder on the unoccupied electronic density of states of NiMnSb(0 0 1) by the use of the ab initio coherent potential approximation method and results are discussed along with corresponding measurements.