Long spin diffusion length in few-layer graphene flakes

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.147201

Authors: W. Yan (University of Cambridge) , L. C. Phillips (University of Cambridge) , M. Barbone (University of Cambridge) , S. J. Hämäläinen (Aalto University School of Science) , A. Lombardo (University of Cambridge) , M. Ghidini (University of Cambridge; DiFeST, University of Parma) , Xavier Moya (University of Cambridge) , F. Maccherozzi (Diamond Light Source) , S. Van Dijken (Aalto University School of Science) , S. S. Dhesi (Diamond Light Source) , A. C. Ferrari (University of Cambridge) , N. D. Mathur (University of Cambridge)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Physical Review Letters , VOL 117

State: Published (Approved)
Published: September 2016
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 1773 , 6249 , 8325

Abstract: We report a spin valve with a few-layer graphene flake bridging highly spin-polarized La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 electrodes, whose surfaces are kept clean during lithographic definition. Sharp magnetic switching is verified using photoemission electron microscopy with x-ray magnetic circular dichroism contrast. A naturally occurring high interfacial resistance ∼12  MΩ facilitates spin injection, and a large resistive switching (0.8  MΩ at 10 K) implies a 70–130  μm spin diffusion length that exceeds previous values obtained with sharp-switching electrodes.

Journal Keywords: Spin current; Spin diffusion; Spin relaxation; Graphene

Diamond Keywords: Spintronics; Ferromagnetism

Subject Areas: Materials, Physics


Instruments: I06-Nanoscience (XPEEM)

Added On: 12/10/2016 09:38

Discipline Tags:

Quantum Materials Physics Electronics Magnetism Materials Science

Technical Tags:

Microscopy Spectroscopy Electron Microscopy (EM) PhotoEmmission Electron Microscopy (PEEM) Circular Dichroism (CD) X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD)