First-principles study of structural, electronic and magnetic properties of AeX (Ae=Be, Mg, Sr, Ba; X=Si, Ge and Sn) compounds

► Electronic Structure and ferromagnetism in AeX (Ae=Be, Mg, Sr, Ba; X=Si, Ge and Sn) compounds. ► AeX (Ae=Sr, Ba; X=Si, Ge and Sn) compounds in the NaCl- and ZB- structure are ferromagnetic metals. ► ZB-type SrSi, SrGe, BaSi and BaGe show half-metallicity with a magnetic moment of 2.00 μB. ► Magnetism arises from anion p-like states and cation d-like states (p-electron magnetism). ► These compounds may be useful spintronic devices.