Spin-active devices based on graphene/WSe2 heterostructures

Abstract

We consider graphene on monolayer ${\mathrm{WSe}}_{2}$ and the spin-orbit coupling induced by the transition-metal dichalcogenide substrate for application to spin-active devices. We study quantum dots and graphene quantum rings as tunable spin filters and inverters. We use an atomistic tight-binding model as well as the Dirac equation to determine stationary states confined in quantum dots and rings. Next, we solve the spin-transport problem for dots and rings connected to nanoribbon leads. The systems connected to zigzag nanoribbons at low magnetic fields act as spin filters and provide strongly spin polarized current.