LAUSR

Abstract We reported a new atomic site preference occupation for Vanadium-based X2YZ full Heusler alloys. It tells that alloys with less 24 valence electrons form the L21-type structure, while others form the XA-type structure. This fact means that the site preference rule for Vanadium-based alloys depends on the total number of valence electrons instead of the electropositive between X and Y atoms. The magnetic moments of XA-type alloys follow the Slater-Pauling rules, with two forms, Mt = NV − 24 and Mt = NV − 18 corresponding to different origins of the band gaps. XA-type V2YZ (Y = Cr, Mn and Fe; Z = Ga, Ge and As), V2CoGa, V2CoGe and V2NiGa alloys have half-metallic property. L21-type V2YZ (Y = Cu and Zn; Z = Ga, Ge and As) alloys show no spin polarization and no half-metallic property due to the structural symmetry and the non-magnetism of copper and zinc atoms.