Structural and magnetic properties of Co-Mn-Sb thin films

Thin Co-Mn-Sb films of different compositions were investigated and utilized as electrodes in alumina based magnetic tunnel junctions with CoFe counterelectrode. The preparation conditions were optimized with respect to magnetic and structural properties. The Co-Mn-Sb/Al-O interface was analyzed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism with particular focus on the element-specific magnetic moments. Co-Mn-Sb crystallizes in different complex cubic structures depending on its composition. The magnetic moments of Co and Mn are ferromagnetically coupled in all cases. A tunnel magnetoresistance ratio of up to 24% at 13 K was found and indicates that Co-Mn-Sb is not a ferromagnetic half-metal. These results are compared to recent works on the structure and predictions of the electronic properties.