Article abstract


Nature Materials 4, 57 - 61 (2004)
Published online: 5 December 2004 | doi:10.1038/nmat1278

Subject Categories: Magnetic materials | Nanoscale materials

Enhanced spin accumulation and novel magnetotransport in nanoparticles

Kay Yakushiji1,2, Franck Ernult1, Hiroshi Imamura2,3, Kazutaka Yamane1, Seiji Mitani1,2, Koki Takanashi1,2, Saburo Takahashi1,2, Sadamichi Maekawa1,2 & Hiroyasu Fujimori2,4


Spin injection and accumulation are key phenomena supporting a variety of concepts for spin-electronic devices. These phenomena are expected to be enhanced in nanoparticles over bulk structures due to their discrete energy levels and large charging energies. In this article, precise magnetotransport measurements in the single-electron tunnelling regime are performed by preparing appropriate microfabricated devices containing cobalt nanoparticles. Here we provide experimental evidence for characteristic features of spin accumulation in magnetic nanoparticles, such as oscillations of the magnetoresistance with a periodical sign change as a function of bias voltage. Theoretical analysis of the magnetoresistance behaviour clearly shows that the spin-relaxation time in nanoparticles is highly enhanced in comparison with that in the bulk.

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  1. Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
  2. CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan
  3. Graduate School of Information Sciences, Tohoku University, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
  4. The Research Institute for Electric and Magnetic Materials, 2-1-1 Yagiyama-minami, Taihaku-ku, Sendai 982-0807, Japan

Correspondence to: Kay Yakushiji1,2 e-mail: kyaku@imr.tohoku.ac.jp

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