Enhancement of giant magnetoresistance by L21 ordering in Co2Fe(Ge0.5Ga0.5) Heusler alloy current-perpendicular-to-plane pseudo spin valves

We report large magnetoresistance (MR) output in fully epitaxial Co2Fe(Ge0.5Ga0.5)/Ag/Co2Fe(Ge0.5Ga0.5) current-perpendicular-to-plane pseudo spin valves. The resistance-area product change (ΔRA) of 12 mΩμm2 at room temperature (RT), equivalent to MR ratio of 57%, and ΔRA = 33 mΩμm2 at 10 K, equivalent to MR ratio of 183%, were obtained by using L21-ordered Co2Fe(Ge0.5Ga0.5) ferromagnetic electrodes. The bulk spin scattering asymmetry (β) were estimated to be ∼0.83 at RT and ∼0.93 at 10 K for the L21-ordered Co2Fe(Ge0.5Ga0.5) films by the Valet-Fert model, indicating that the L21-ordered Co2FeGe0.5Ga0.5 Heusler alloy is virtually half-metal at 10 K, but its half-metallicity is degraded at RT.

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