Spin current generator in a single molecular magnet with spin bias

Abstract

In this paper we study the spin- and charge-transport behaviors of a single molecular magnet (SMM) coupled to external reservoirs with spin-dependent chemical potentials. By using the Hubbard operator Green’s function method, we show that in the limit of a pinned macrospin the SMM can serve as an effective spin current filter or generator. Two configurations of spin bias are considered. For SMM coupled with symmetric dipolar spin bias, the system can generate spin-polarized current and pure spin current by adjusting the relative magnitude of spin bias and Coulomb interaction. It originates from the competition of two spin-opposite transport channels. Also due to this competition, one can observe a negative differential spin conductance. For SMM coupled with asymmetric dipolar spin bias, the system can only generate spin-polarized currents. The SMM as a spin current generator shows features different from the usual quantum dot system and these features can be useful in molecular spintronics.