Structure, stability and magnetic properties of the Fe3O4(110) surface:: Density functional theory study -: Discussion

Six surface models for the Fe3O4(110) surface were studied using the density functional theory (DFT), namely the AB-terminated surface (AB model), the AB-terminated with Fe-A vacancy (AB-Fe-A vac model), the AB-terminated with Fe-B vacancy (AB-Fe-B vac model), the B-terminated surface (B model), the B-terminated surface with Fe-B vacancy (B-Fe-B vac model), and the B-terminated surface with O vacancy (B-O vac model). Here, A and B denoted the Fe cations in tetrahedrally (Fe-A) and octahedrally (Fe-B) coordinated interstices. The stability, the electronic structure and the magnetic properties of the six surface models were also calculated. The results predict that the B-O vac model is more stable than other surface models. The half-metallic property remains in the AB and B models, while the other four surface models exhibit metallic properties. At the same time, the AB, AB-Fe-A vac, AB-Fe-B vac, B and the B-Fe-B vac models have ferrimagnetic properties, while the B-O vac model has antiferromagnetic property. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.