**5. Conclusion**

*Magnetic Materials and Magnetic Levitation*

**(μB/ atom)** **μZr(4c) (μB/ atom)**

Zr2CoAl 6.54 0.757a 0.54a 2.00a 0.48a

Zr2CoGa 6.62c 1.30c 0.52c 0.34c −0.16c 2.00c 0.6990c

Zr2CoIn 6.75c 1.34c 0.62c 0.2c −0.16c 2.00c 0.7013c

Zr2CoSi 6.68c 1.59c 0.58c 1.0c −0.08c 3.00c 0.8419c Zr2CoGe 6.70c 1.65c 0.65c 0.86c −0.16c 3.00c 0.8365c Zr2CoSn 6.76b 0.946b 0.446b 0.8106b −0.013b 3.00b 0543b

Zr2CoPb 6.86c 1.72c 0.76c −0.16c −0.24c 3.00c 0.58c Zr2NiAl 6.60h 1.02h 0.98h 0.61h 0.15h 2.87<sup>h</sup> 0.44h Zr2NiGa 6.58h 1.06h 0.81h 0.58h 0.21h 2.86h 0.50h

**μY(4b) (μB/ atom)**

6.575i 1.211i 0.303i 0.538i −0.053i 2.000i 0.518i 6.59c 1.34c 0.36c 0.4c −0.1c 2.00c 0.6046c 6.523d 1.088d 0.442d 0.553d 0.002d 2.00d 0.300d 6.575e 1.21e 0.3e 0.54e −0.05e 2.00e 0.518e 6.539f 0.725f 0.262f 0.587f 0.011f 2.00f 0.5905f

6.593i 1.162i 0.402i 0.505i −0.070i 2.000i 0.533i 6.509d 1.074d 0.526d 0.522d 0.013d 2.00d 0.353d 6.520f 0.714f 0.332f 0.518f −0.001f 2.00f 0.6546f

6.627i 1.215i 0.455i 0.417i −0.089i 2.000i 0.576i 6.714d 1.085d 0.581d 0.427d 0.011d 2.00d 0.268d 6.726f 0.722f 0.3630f 0.429f −0.002f 1.999f 0.6580f

6.790i 1.625i 0.605i 0.829i −0.060i 3.000i 0.614i 6.81c 1.70c 0.68c 0.78c −0.16c 3.00c 0.8537c 6.745d 1.429d 0.746d 0.858d 0.044d 2.998d 0.406d 6.745g 1.429g 0.746g 0.858g 0.044g 3.000g 0.65g

**μZ(4d) (μB/ atom)**

**μt (μB/ f.u.)** **Eg (eV)**

**Alloy a (Å) μZr(4a)**

**100**

*a Ref [30]. b Ref [35]. c Ref [31]. d Ref [32]. e Ref [33]. f Ref [34]. g Ref [36]. h Ref [37]. i Ref [21].*

**Table 3.**

*Z = Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb).*

than the other published results. In all compounds, the ferromagnetic interaction between constituent atoms is represented by similar signs of the partial magnetic moments. The total magnetic moments, following Slater-Pauling curve, are higher than for ferromagnetic half-metallic compounds, and as consequence, the compounds may present a better response to an external magnetic field. Theoretical results regarding zirconium-based half-metallic compounds containing nickel provide information about electronic structures and magnetic properties in alloys with Al and Ga. These intermetallic compounds theoretically behave like half-metals from the electronic structure point of view; however their reported total magnetic moments do not follow the Slater Pauling curve.

*Calculated lattice parameters, partial, total magnetic moments, and energy band gap in Zr2YZ (Y=Co, Ni;* 

The individualized medicine and high precise diagnosis can benefit from the development of smart biosensors based on magnetic functionalities. Foreseeable applications of zirconium-based biosensors with half metallic character include the capability to measure, sense, or respond to magnetic stimuli desirable for in vivo sensitive detection of markers for diseases.

This chapter overviewed the recent advances of zirconium-based full-Heusler compounds from the point of view of electronic structure and magnetic properties. The representative materials described in this chapter obviously were selected to offer significant information to emphasis the certain differences in magnetic features: half-metallic ferrimagnetism, spin-gapless semiconducting, and half-metallic ferromagnetism. Based on this, the Y elements of Zr2YZ were selected from the most commonly used transition metals (Cr, Mn, and Co), while the Z element was identical in all compounds (Al). The purpose was to underline the influence of d electrons of Y elements and hybridization interaction between the electrons of zirconium and Y atoms over the macroscopic magnetic properties.

Furthermore, the theoretical and experimental advances in designing and fabrication technology engage the construction of innovative materials to be integrated in biosensors with significant high throughput able to reform the biomedical field.
