Spin-dependent transport in all-carbon multifunctional spintronic device

Abstract

By using density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green’s function method, we investigate the spin-dependent transport properties of an all-carbon spintronic device consisting of a perylene molecule linked to two symmetrical ferromagnetic zigzag-edge graphene nanoribbon (ZGNR) electrodes via carbon atomic chains, where the magnetization of ZGNR electrodes are modulated by applying an external magnetic field. The device exhibits spin filtering and negative differential resistance (NDR) effect in parallel spin configuration. Bipolar spin filtering, spin rectifying and NDR effect are revealed in antiparallel spin configuration. And there is a giant magnetoresistance effect between parallel and antiparallel spin configurations. We discuss these interesting transport mechanisms, and suggest that the proposed all-carbon device holds promise in high-performance multifunctional nanoelectronic devices.