Inducing Fe moment in LaFeSi with p-block element substitution

Abstract

We studied the LaFeSi phase using density functional theory based full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. Specifically we examined the effect of p-element substitution on the stability and magnetic properties focusing on pathways to induce Fe magnetic moments. We demonstrate that either partial or complete substitutions at the Si 2c-site by several p-block elements lead to non-zero Fe moments. Our theoretical study shows that partially substituted LaFeSi1-yGay and LaFeSi1-yAly are more thermodynamically stable than the fully substituted LaFeGa and LaFeAl. We also found that the P substitutions, either partial or complete, have the most negative formation energies, however the compounds containing phosphorus are non-magnetic. Our work highlights a pathway toward manipulations of the otherwise quenched Fe-moments in LaFeSi-related compounds and help in advancing the potential magnetic functionalities of LaFeX compounds.