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Projekt Druckansicht

Maßgeschneiderte Spin Wechselwirkungen in Graphen Nanoribbons für ballistische, komplett spinpolarisierte Schalter

Fachliche Zuordnung Experimentelle Physik der kondensierten Materie
Förderung Förderung von 2015 bis 2017
Projektkennung Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 279056547
 
Erstellungsjahr 2020

Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse

The TAILSPIN aims to realize an “all-graphene” spin-valve device and is inspired by our discovery of ballistic and fully spin-polarized transport at room temperature for graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) grown on prestructured SiC(0001) surfaces. We obtained clear evidence that the origin of the observed unique properties is governed by the presence of robust edge states. The unique role of the electronic and magnetic properties of these edge states is the central research topic in this proposal, which in combination with electronic charge and spin transport studies in dedicated devices will reveal crucial information about the underlying mechanism for the ballistic and magnetic behavior. The major objective is to explore the unique possibilities of this system to realize spintronic devices where the entire spin valve architecture is made by a single GNR. This creates an entirely new platform for both fundamental as well as application driven research of quasi one-dimensional carbon based magnetism and spintronics. In detail, the TAILSPIN project covers the following aspects: (a) Optimization of the growth process for a large scale needs to be promoted for future applications; (b) Microscopic understanding of the ballistic and spin-polarized behavior by the anomalous electronic structure of the edge states by combining different electron spectroscopic and spin transport; (c) Functionalization of GNRs via selective atomistic manipulation, adsorption and intercalation under consideration of defects; (d) Finally, the engineering of prototype spin-valve devices, and exploring the transport properties as a function of the applied magnetic field, temperature, and functionalization of the GNR. The expertise of the TAILSPIN partners bridges the gap between atomic and mesoscopic scales and the complementary methods cover the fields of controlled growth, structure (STM, LEEM), electronic structure (STS, ARPES, PEEM) and transport (4-tip STM/SEM, cryogenic spin transport). The targeted sharing into different tasks addresses aspects regarding the precise engineering of nanoribbons with tailored edge states as well as further functionalization by local manipulation, e.g. adsorption and intercalation. This finally allows us to derive a detailed model about the relevant microscopic interactions on various length scales giving rise to the anomalous electronic structure of the edge states. Within the first year of the TAILSPIN project we successfully optimized the growth parameters such that large ensembles of zig-zag or arm-chair ribbons can be fabricated on SiC-mesa structures. Moreover, by applying a twofold heating procedure, the parasitic effect of the SiC facet instability is suppressed, so 40nm wide ribbons are obtained. On these ribbons, we performed spectroscopic measurements, which revealed both the presence of bulk and edge states in these structures. Latest transport measurements support the ballistic character: in particular, we got a deeper insight into the invasiveness of our contacts and succeeded to measure also 4e²/h channels for probe distances around 60nm. The asymmetric bonding of the edges of the ribbon seems to be very important in order to explain the robust edge state as well as the spin- and pseudospin degenerated bulk states. In addition, high resolution STM/STS as well as TEM provide now microscopic details, which are taken into account for the ongoing theoretical modeling.

Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)

 
 

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