Spintronic Devices Based on Topological Insulators

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Yoichi Ando
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2018 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 398945897

The surface states of topological insulators (TIs) are peculiar in that electrical currents directly induce spin polarization whose direction is perpendicularly locked to the current direction. This makes TIs a promising platform for spintronic applications. In the past few years, the Principal Investigator has made a series of important contributions to the TI research field in terms of both materials and device developments. Building on those achievements, this project focuses on fabrication and characterization of spintronic devices aimed at testing/demonstrating spintronic functions of TIs. Specifically, the project addresses the following two objectives: (I) realize the spin transistor operation to demonstrate the manipulation of spins via electrostatic gating based on the new mechanism proposed by us; (II) approach the ballistic spin transport regime to significantly enhance the efficiency of spin generation. Achievements of these objectives will enable us to evaluate the potential of TIs for spintronic applications on a concrete basis, providing foundations for future technologies based on TIs.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants