Electrical gate control of spin current in van der Waals heterostructures at room temperature
Journal article, 2017

Two-dimensional (2D) crystals offer a unique platform due to their remarkable and contrasting spintronic properties, such as weak spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in graphene and strong SOC in molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). Here we combine graphene and MoS2 in a van der Waals heterostructure (vdWh) to demonstrate the electric gate control of the spin current and spin lifetime at room temperature. By performing non-local spin valve and Hanle measurements, we unambiguously prove the gate tunability of the spin current and spin lifetime in graphene/MoS2 vdWhs at 300 K. This unprecedented control over the spin parameters by orders of magnitude stems from the gate tuning of the Schottky barrier at the MoS2/graphene interface and MoS2 channel conductivity leading to spin dephasing in high-SOC material. Our findings demonstrate an all-electrical spintronic device at room temperature with the creation, transport and control of the spin in 2D materials heterostructures, which can be key building blocks in future device architectures.

Field

Transport

Spintronics

Charge

Precession

Graphene

Hexagonal Boron-Nitride

Injection

Effect Transistor

Polarization

Author

André Dankert

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

Saroj Prasad Dash

Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Quantum Device Physics

Nature Communications

2041-1723 (ISSN) 20411723 (eISSN)

Vol. 8 16093

Graphene-Based Revolutions in ICT And Beyond (Graphene Flagship)

European Commission (EC) (EC/FP7/604391), 2013-10-01 -- 2016-03-31.

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Subject Categories

Nano Technology

Condensed Matter Physics

DOI

10.1038/ncomms16093

More information

Latest update

4/6/2022 6