Fast Breaking Comment by Sabine Wurmehl

Sabine Wurmehl answers a few questions about this month's fast breaking paper in the field of Physics.

From •>>October 2007

Field: Physics
Article Title: Electronic structure and spectroscopy of the quaternary Heusler alloy Co2Cr1-xFexAl
Authors: Wurmehl, S;Fecher, GH;Kroth, K;Kronast, F;Durr, HA;Takeda, Y;Saitoh, Y;Kobayashi, K;Lin, HJ;Schonhense, G;Felser, C
Journal: J PHYS-D-APPL PHYS
Volume: 39
Issue: 5
Page: 803-815
Year: MAR 7 2006
* Univ Mainz, Inst Anorgan Chem &; Analyt Chem, D-55099 Mainz, Germany.
* Univ Mainz, Inst Anorgan Chem &; Analyt Chem, D-55099 Mainz, Germany.
* BESSY, D-12489 Berlin, Germany.
* Japan Atom Energy Res Inst, Synchrotron Radiat Res Ctr, Hyogo 3795198, Japan.
* Japan Synchrotron Radiat Res Inst, Sayou, Hyogo 3795198, Japan.
* NSRRC, Hsinchu 30076, Taiwan.
* Univ Mainz, Inst Phys, D-55099 Mainz, Germany.

Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

The research regarding Heusler compounds is a hot topic due to the potential use of these materials for applications in the field of spintronics.

This paper shows a comprehensive study of Co₂Cr_1-xFe_xAl Heusler compounds by means of bulk and surface-sensitive techniques. The research regarding Heusler compounds is a hot topic due to the potential use of these materials for applications in the field of spintronics.

Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or synthesis of knowledge?

Actually, no new methods were introduced, but rather a combination of various methods, which included X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, Mößbauer spectroscopy in transmission and scattering modes, and X-ray photo emission spectroscopy combined with Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiling. However, this combination of bulk and surface-sensitive techniques methods is quite unique.

Would you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

The use of Heusler compounds for technical applications demands a precise control of the relations between the structure and its physical properties. Thus, a thorough structural characterization is one of the key tools on an optimization of Heusler compounds for any technical application.

How did you become involved in this research, and were there any problems along the way?

Actually, the structural characterization as presented in this paper is already an attempt to solve a scientific problem. Some Heusler compounds exhibit physical properties differently from the predicted ones. This difference is caused quite commonly by disorder phenomena, and the difference between bulk and surface. This was the motivation to undergo a comprehensive study of the Co₂Cr_1-xFe_xAl Heusler compounds.

Where do you see your research leading in the future?

A detailed knowledge of the structure of bulk and surface of the Heusler compounds may help us to understand macroscopic properties such as spin polarization, leading to an iterative concept of structural characterization and sample preparation. The aim is for an optimization of the properties of Heusler compounds for spintronics. This optimization may be supported using hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to study the structural properties.

Dr. Sabine Wurmehl
Physics of Nanostructures
Department of Applied Physics / Center for NanoMaterials (FNA)
Eindhoven University of Technology
Eindhoven, The Netherlands

ESI Special Topics, October 2007
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2007/october07-SabineWurmehl.html