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Research » Spin Logic » Spin Transport

Graphene is a desirable material for spintronic devices for many reasons. Primarily, its long spin diffusion length make it an optimal choice as a channel material to retain spin information. As a 2D material, concerns for shape distortion causing multidomain structures or unpredictable shape anisotropy are minimized, especially when the ferromagnetic is deposited across the graphene boundary. Also because of its 2D nature, patterning the graphene into any desired circuit can be easily achieved.

From extensive work with graphene, we have developed an expertise in the exfoliation process, readily obtaining flakes with high on/off ratios (>10) at room temperature and great degrees of confidence in the stability of repeated electrical measurements. This was the basis for our spin valve devices giving rise to 5% magneto-resistance at room temperature, without tunnel barriers, and non-vacuum system, which has only been demonstrated once before by Geim and Novoselov, a Nobel prize winning group.(see Nano Letters, 13, 5177 (2013))

Authors: Chia-Ching Lin, Ashish Penumatcha