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Highly efficient spin transport in epitaxial graphene on SiC

Nature Physics volume 8, pages 557–561 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Spin information processing is a possible new paradigm for post-CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) electronics and efficient spin propagation over long distances is fundamental to this vision. However, despite several decades of intense research, a suitable platform is still wanting. We report here on highly efficient spin transport in two-terminal polarizer/analyser devices based on high-mobility epitaxial graphene grown on silicon carbide. Taking advantage of high-impedance injecting/detecting tunnel junctions, we show spin transport efficiencies up to 75%, spin signals in the mega-ohm range and spin diffusion lengths exceeding 100 μm. This enables spintronics in complex structures: devices and network architectures relying on spin information processing, well beyond present spintronics applications, can now be foreseen.

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Figure 1: Devices patterned on epitaxial graphene.
Figure 2: Magnetotransport measurements.
Figure 3: Achievable spin signal amplitude ΔR.
Figure 4: Consistency of measured spin signals with standard transport models.

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Acknowledgements

We thank H. Jaffrès for helpful discussions. This research was partially supported by the W M Keck Foundation and the NSF under Grant No DMR-0820382. This research was partially supported by the EU FP7 work programme under grant GRAFOL. P.S. wants to acknowledge the Institut Universitaire de France for junior fellowship support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, 91767 Palaiseau, France associée à l’Université de Paris-Sud 11, 91405 Orsay, France

    Bruno Dlubak, Marie-Blandine Martin, Cyrile Deranlot, Richard Mattana, Frédéric Petroff, Abdelmadjid Anane, Pierre Seneor & Albert Fert

  2. Thales Research and Technology, 91767 Palaiseau, France

    Bernard Servet & Stéphane Xavier

  3. School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA

    Mike Sprinkle, Claire Berger & Walt A. De Heer

  4. CNRS-Institut Néel, 38042 Grenoble, France

    Claire Berger

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  1. Bruno Dlubak
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Contributions

B.D., M-B.M. A.A. and P.S. carried out the whole project, including planning, experimental work, data analysis and writing of the paper. R.M., F.P. and A.F. also discussed the results. A.F. also participated in writing of the paper. C.D., B.S. and S.X. contributed to sample fabrication and characterization. M.S., C.B. and W.A.D.H. grew and characterized the epitaxial graphene layers. All authors participated in general discussions and commented on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Pierre Seneor.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Dlubak, B., Martin, MB., Deranlot, C. et al. Highly efficient spin transport in epitaxial graphene on SiC. Nature Phys 8, 557–561 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys2331

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