First-principles analysis reveals Cr doping boosts topological properties and anomalous conductivity in Weyl semimetals.
The discovery of magnetic Weyl semimetals has drawn significant interest due to their exceptional topological properties and anomalous transport behaviors, presenting exciting possibilities for ad vanced technological applications. Co-based Heusler compounds, with their unique band structures, have emerged as key materials for exploring the interplay between magnetism and topology. In this work, we perform a detailed first-principles study on Co2−xCrxMnGe Heusler alloys (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), proposing new candidates with significantly enhanced nontrivial transport properties. Multiple Weyl points (WPs) have been observed intrinsically in ferromagnetic Heulser alloy Co2MnGe, and the presence of bulk WPs is confirmed by the presence of isolated Fermi arcs and surface states. A significant Berry curvature is observed that arises from symmetry-protected WPs and gapped nodal lines and drives towards fascinating transport behavior. Our results show that Cr doping not only modifies the crystal symmetry but also enhances the Berry curvature, leading to a substantial effect in anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC). Notably, comparable intrinsic AHC values are observed over a range of Cr concentrations (x=0, 0.25, and 0.5) and thus demonstrate the effect of substitutional doping on topological properties as well as transport behaviours. Furthermore, we systematically explore the anomalous Nernst conductivity in these systems with Weyl fermions. These findings underscore the potential of substitutional doping to significantly enhance topological properties and anomalous transport behaviors, paving the way for the development of Co-based magnetic Weyl semimetals with superior performance in spintronic and electronic applications.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sarkar et al. (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched one closely related paper. Consider it for comparative context: