Magnetism and Electronic Structure in ZnFe$_2$O$_4$ and MnFe$_2$O$_4$

Using a joint approach of density functional theory and model calculations, we demonstrate that a prototypical charge ordered half-doped manganite, La$_{1/2}$Ca$_{1/2}$MnO$_3$ is multiferroic. The combination of a peculiar charge-orbital ordering and a tendency to form spin dimers breaks inversion symmetry, leads to a ferroelectric ground-state with a polarization up to several $\mu C/cm^2$. The presence of improper ferroelectricity does not depend on hotly debated structural...

A review of new developments in theoretical and experimental electronic structure investigations of half-metallic ferromagnets (HMF) is presented. Being semiconductors for one spin projection and metals for another ones, these substances are promising magnetic materials for applications in spintronics (i.e., spin-dependent electronics). Classification of HMF by the peculiarities of their electronic structure and chemical bonding is discussed. Effects of electron-magnon intera...

The ordered magnetic states of MnWO4 at low temperatures were examined by evaluating the spin exchange interactions between the Mn2+ ions of MnWO4 on the basis of first principles density functional calculations and by performing classical spin analysis with the resulting spin exchange parameters. Our work shows that the spin exchange interactions are frustrated within each zigzag chain of Mn2+ ions along the c-direction and between such chains of Mn2+ ions along the a-direct...

Mn$_3$O$_4$ is a spin frustrated magnet that adopts a tetragonally distorted spinel structure at ambient conditions and a CaMn$_2$O$_4$-type postspinel structure at high pressure. We conducted both optical measurements and \emph{ab} \emph{initio} calculations, and systematically studied the electronic band structures of both the spinel and postspinel Mn$_3$O$_4$ phases. For both phases, theoretical electronic structures are consistent with the optical absorption spectra, and ...

We present a Density Functional Theory (DFT) based study of the structural and magnetic properties of the (001) surface of the semiconducting oxide ZnFe2O4 (spinel structure). The calculations were performed using the DFT based ab initio plane wave and pseudopotential method as implemented in the Quantum Espresso code. The all electron Full-potential linearized-augmented-plane-wave method (FP-LAPW) was also employed to check the accuracy of plane wave method. In both calculat...

Spinel ferrites in general show a rich interplay of structural, electronic, and magnetic properties. Here, we particularly focus on zinc ferrite (ZFO), which has been observed experimentally to crystallise in the cubic $normal$ spinel structure. However, its magnetic ground state is still under dispute. In addition, some unusual magnetic properties in ZFO thin films or nanostructures have been explained by a possible partial cation inversion and a different magnetic interacti...

We have investigated electronic structures and magnetic properties of potential ZnO based diluted magnetic semiconductors: (Fe, Co) and (Fe, Cu) codoped ZnO. The origins of ferromagnetism are shown to be different between two. (Fe, Co) codoped ZnO does not have a tendency of Fe-O-Co ferromagnetic cluster formation, and so the double exchange mechanism will not be effective. In contrast, (Fe, Cu) codoped ZnO has a tendency of the Fe-O-Cu ferromagnetic cluster formation with th...

We calculate the nature of magnetic interactions in transition-metal doped ZnO using the local spin density approximation and LSDA+\textit{U} method of density functional theory. We investigate the following four cases: (i) single transition metal ion types (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu) substituted at Zn sites, (ii) substitutional magnetic transition metal ions combined with additional Cu and Li dopants, (iii) substitutional magnetic transition metal ions combined with oxygen v...

Using spin density functional theory we have carried out a comparative study of chemical bonding and magnetism in Fe_4N, Fe_3N and Fe_2N. All of these compounds form close packed Fe lattices, while N occupies octahedral interstitial positions. High spin fcc Fe and hypothetical FeN with rock salt structure have been included in our study as reference systems. We find strong, covalent Fe-N bonds as a result of a substantial \sigma-type p-d hybridisation, with some charge transf...

Geometrically frustrated magnetic semiconductor $\textrm{CuMnO}_{2}$ has potential applications as photo-catalyst, in photochemical cells and multi-ferroic devices. Electronic band structure in the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phases of $\textrm{CuMnO}_{2}$ were calculated using first principle density functional theory (DFT) as implemented in VASP. Electronic band structure in the antiferromagnetic state shows indirect band gap ($\sim 0.53$ eV) where as in the ferroma...