A two-dimensional spin field-effect switch.

Future development in spintronic devices will require an advanced control of spin currents, for example by an electric field. Here we demonstrate an approach that differs from previous proposals such as the Datta and Das modulator, and that is based on a van de Waals heterostructure of atomically thin graphene and semiconducting MoS2. Our device combines the superior spin transport properties of graphene with the strong spin-orbit coupling of MoS2 and allows switching of the spin current in the graphene channel between ON and OFF states by tuning the spin absorption into the MoS2 with a gate electrode. Our proposal holds potential for technologically relevant applications such as search engines or pattern recognition circuits, and opens possibilities towards electrical injection of spins into transition metal dichalcogenides and alike materials.

The integration of the spin degree of freedom in charge-based electronic devices has revolutionized both sensing and memory capability in microelectronics1. However, for allowing further development and a successful implementation of spin logic circuits, an electrical manipulation of spin currents is required. The approach followed so far, inspired by the seminal proposal of the Datta and Das spin modulator2, has relied on the spin–orbit field as a medium for electrical control of the spin current3456. However, a challenge is to engineer a material that is capable of transporting spins over long distances and meanwhile has a strong enough spin–orbit coupling (SOC) to allow their electrical manipulation at temperatures above few Kelvin.

For example, carbon-based materials with intrinsic weak SOC, such as organic semiconductors7, carbon nanotubes8 and graphene9, have made a notable impact in spintronics. In particular, graphene has been proved to be ideal for long-distance spin transport (in excess of several micrometres)101112131415. However, owing to its weak SOC, spin manipulation in this material has been mainly achieved by an external magnetic field through Hanle precession101314. Although various approaches have been taken to enhance the SOC of graphene, for example through proximity effect161718 or by atomic doping19, a direct evidence on the modulation of spin transport by an electric field remains elusive.

Meanwhile, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have emerged to complement graphene due to their unique optical, spin and valley properties2021. Specifically, MoS2, the best-known member of that class, has a crossover from an indirect to a direct-gap semiconductor when thinned down to a monolayer (ML)22. Its electronic properties can be strongly modulated by gate, large current ON/OFF ratio as much as 1 × 108 in ML and 1 × 106 in multilayers have been found2324. Its stronger SOC compared with that of graphene, arising from the d-orbitals of the transition metal atoms, offers new possibilities to employ the spin and valley degrees of freedom in TMDs20252627.

In our work, the combination of graphene with MoS2 in a heterostructure through weak van der Waals (vdW) forces28 allows us to engineer an alternative type of field-effect switch for spin transport. A spin current in the graphene section of the device is electrically injected from a ferromagnetic source terminal. The gate electrode controls how much of that spin current is absorbed by the intersecting MoS2 layer (spin sink) before its arrival to the ferromagnetic drain terminal. By tuning the gate voltage, we were able to switch the spin current between binary ON and OFF states at temperatures up to 200 K. The current device could be scalable and operative at room temperature, considering both the rapid progress made in chemical vapour deposition of two-dimensional (2D) materials and the theoretical performance of the materials involved.

Results

Device structure and measurement configurations

A sketch of the 2D vdW heterostructure and the electrical measurement scheme is shown in Fig. 1a, whereas a scanning electron microscope image of the device is shown in Fig. 1b. Graphene flakes are exfoliated onto a highly doped Si substrate covered by 300 nm of SiO2. An ML graphene flake is identified according to its optical contrast29 and, subsequently, a few-layer MoS2 flake is transferred above it by all-dry viscoelastic stamping30. Several Co/TiO2 electrodes are patterned by electron-beam lithography and evaporated onto the graphene channel, to create lateral spin valves (LSVs; see Methods), which enable the injection and detection of pure spin currents in graphene in a non-local geometry1014. The non-local resistance Rnl=Vnl/I, which depends on the relative orientation of the magnetisation of the injecting and detecting Co electrodes, is measured while sweeping the magnetic field B in-plane along the easy axis of the electrodes (see Fig. 1a for a sketch of the experimental geometry). Specifically, when the configuration of the magnetizations changes from parallel to antiparallel, Rnl switches from high (Rp) to low (Rap) value. The spin signal is proportional to the amount of spin current reaching the detector, measured by ΔRnl=Rp−Rap (Fig. 1c).

Figure 1

Illustration of the experiment and scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the device.

(a) Sketch of the 2D vdW heterostructure to be used for switching the spin transport. For the non-local measurement, a DC current (10 μA) is injected into graphene from a ferromagnetic Co electrode across a TiO2 barrier and a non-local voltage (Vnl) is measured by a second Co electrode while sweeping the magnetic field B. The red- and blue-coloured circuit diagrams represent the measurement configurations in the reference graphene LSV (without MoS2 on top) and the graphene/MoS2 LSV (with MoS2 intercepting the spin current path). In the latter case, the spin current flowing in the graphene can be switched ON and OFF by modulating the conductivity of MoS2 using an electric field across a SiO2 dielectric (also shown in the diagram). (b) False-coloured SEM image of the LSV devices. The width of the graphene and MoS2 are and , respectively. Scale bar, 2 μm. (c) An illustration of a typical non-local magnetoresistance measurement, where the non-local resistance Rnl switches between RP and RAP for parallel and antiparallel magnetization orientations of the Co electrodes. The spin signal is tagged as ΔRnl=Rp−Rap.

Spin transport in a reference graphene lateral spin valve

We first study the spin transport in a graphene LSV without MoS2 (reference LSV). Figure 2a shows the measured Rnl as a function of B for different gate voltages (Vg). On application of Vg, the magnitude of the spin signal weakly varies, following the modification of the graphene sheet conductivity () with Vg, as can be observed in Fig. 2b. The correlation between ΔRnl and is a signature of a transparent interface between the Co/TiO2 electrodes and the graphene (∼250 Ω), as it is well established in the literature14.

Figure 2

Spin transport in a reference graphene lateral spin valve.

Measurements are done using the red-coloured circuit diagram in Fig. 1a. (a) Non-local resistance Rnl as a function of the magnetic field B measured at different Vg at 50 K. The current bias is 10 μA and the centre-to-centre distance between ferromagnetic electrodes (L) is 1 μm. Individual sweeps are offset in Rnl for clarity. (b) Spin signal ΔRnl measured at different Vg (red circles). The black solid line shows the sheet conductivity of the graphene as a function of Vg. The inset shows schematically the spin current (green arrow) reaching the detector in the full range of Vg. Error bars are calculated using the s.e. associated with the statistical average of the non-local resistance in the parallel and antiparallel states.

Spin transport in a graphene/MoS2 spin field-effect switch

Next, we introduce the central results of our manuscript: the demonstration of spin switching by a gate voltage in a graphene/MoS2 LSV. Figure 3a shows Rnl of this device, while sweeping B for different values of Vg, where a gradual decrease of the spin signal ΔRnl with Vg can be observed. This behaviour is clearly seen in Fig. 3b, where ΔRnl is plotted as a function of Vg, showing the decay of ΔRnl towards zero at positive values of Vg, in contrast with the weakly varying spin signal measured in the reference LSV (see Fig. 2b). Figure 3b also plots the MoS2 sheet conductivity () from a reference device revealing an opposite gate voltage dependence to that of ΔRnl. For large negative Vg, the semiconducting MoS2 is in the low conductivity OFF state and the measured ΔRnl value is comparable to that of the reference LSV, reaching the ON state of the device. This result is expected, considering that the electrode spacing here is slightly longer than in the reference LSV (1.8 versus 1 μm; see Fig. 1b for comparison). Sweeping the gate voltage towards positive values brings the MoS2 towards its high conductivity ON state, where increases by more than six orders of magnitude compared with the OFF state. Simultaneously, the spin current reaching the detector and the corresponding ΔRnl gradually decrease towards zero (see Fig. 3b), reaching the OFF state of the device for Vg>15 V. The change in spin signal per gate voltage unit in our device is ∼0.7 mΩ V−1. The results are completely reproducible upon multiple gate voltage sweeps and temperature cycles, evidencing the robustness of the effect (Supplementary Fig. 1). Similar results to those in Fig. 3b are also observed at temperatures up to 200 K (Supplementary Fig. 2).

Figure 3

Spin transport in a graphene/MoS2 lateral spin valve.

Measurements are done using the blue-coloured circuit diagram in Fig. 1a. (a) Non-local resistance Rnl measured as a function of the magnetic field B at different Vg at 50 K using 10 μA current bias and for a centre-to-centre distance between ferromagnetic electrodes (L) of 1.8 μm. Individual sweeps are offset in Rnl for clarity. (b) Gate modulation of the spin signal ΔRnl (blue circles). The black solid line is the sheet conductivity of the MoS2 as a function of Vg. The insets show schematically the spin current path (green arrow) in the OFF state (left inset) and the ON state (right inset) of MoS2. Error bars are calculated using the s.e. associated with the statistical average of the nonlocal resistance in the parallel and antiparallel states.

This control of the spin current directly demonstrates the 2D spin field-effect switch. This proof-of-principle effect can be enhanced by using a different dielectric, for example, layered hexagonal BN2431, or by tuning the interface resistance between graphene and Co14.

Discussion

The switching of spin transport using the graphene/MoS2 vdW heterostructure relies on the absorption of spins travelling through the graphene by the MoS2, as schematically illustrated in the inset of Fig. 3b. To support this argument, we make use of the spin resistances of the channel (graphene) and the absorbing material (MoS2), which are the main control parameters in the spin absorption mechanism. Roughly, they can quantify how easily the spin current flows through each of the materials, in the same way in which one can estimate a charge current flow in parallel electrical resistors. The spin resistances of graphene and MoS2 can be expressed as and , respectively (Supplementary Note 2); where are their sheet resistances, their spin diffusion lengths and their widths ( and ). We have estimated the intrinsic spin lifetime in bulk MoS2 to be in the range of 10 ps (see Supplementary Note 2). For this estimation, we have considered electron interaction with flexural phonons and found weak temperature dependence of the spin relaxation in accord with our experimental results and in contrast to the findings in ML MoS2 (ref. 27). The lack of space inversion symmetry in a ML has two effects on the spin transport. The first one is to increase the amplitude of the spin-flip matrix element26. The second effect is to induce spin splitting of the energy bands at the K point. Although the former effect enhances spin relaxation, the latter one suppresses it when the spin splitting is large enough to exclude elastic scattering. In p-type ML TMDs, for example, the spin splitting in the valence band is of the order of hundreds of meV and the overall spin lifetime is prolonged compared with bulk. In this view, the spin degeneracy of the energy bands in few-layer TMDs renders these materials ideal spin sinks when put in proximity to graphene. Using the estimated spin lifetime in bulk MoS2, we calculate in the OFF state of the device at Vg=40 V. In contrast, the spin diffusion length in graphene is much longer, being estimated from Hanle measurements on a reference device (Supplementary Fig. 3). Substituting the spin diffusion lengths, the electrical properties and geometrical factors of graphene and MoS2, we obtain and Vg=40 V (Supplementary Note 2). The fact that demonstrates the capability of the MoS2 to absorb spins from the graphene channel. This is further supported by the low graphene/MoS2 barrier height at high positive Vg (ref. 32), making the interface resistance sufficiently low for efficient spin absorption.

The situation completely changes when the gate voltage Vg is swept towards negative values. At Vg=−30 V, the MoS2 conductivity decreases by more than six orders of magnitude from Vg=40 V, which leads to a similar increase in . Therefore, we have , preventing spin absorption by MoS2. Although the very large spin resistance of MoS2 alone is sufficient to support the vanishing spin absorption, we note that the interface resistance between graphene and MoS2 also increases32, further preventing probable spin absorption into the MoS2. Therefore, the gate dependence of the graphene/MoS2 interface resistance acts as a positive feedback, further improving the performance in the regime between the fully ON and OFF state of the device.

The inverse correlation between the spin signal ΔRnl and the MoS2 conductivity can be clearly seen in Fig. 3b. This correlation supports the aforementioned argument and discards other scenarios, such as spin dephasing in possible trap states at the graphene/MoS2 interface. The fact that similar results to those in Fig. 3b are also observed at 200 K indicates that the effect barely changes with temperature and therefore is incompatible with the exponential temperature dependence expected for capture and escape in trap states (Supplementary Note 1). Next, we confirm the spin absorption mechanism by computing the expected spin signal ratio, , which quantifies the relative amount of spins deviating from the graphene channel towards the MoS2 (ref. 33):

where and ΔRnl are the spin signals with and without spin absorption by the MoS2; is the spin resistance of the Co/TiO2/graphene interface, RI is the interface resistance and PI is the interface spin polarisation; and finally, and . Assuming the interface is transparent at 40 V, one can calculate the expected spin signal ratio when the MoS2 is fully ON. Substituting the known parameters into equation (1), one gets at Vg=40 V (Supplementary Note 3). The very small value calculated for predicts a strong spin absorption, which confirms this scenario to be responsible for the observed experimental results of Fig. 3b.

Compared with previous Datta and Das-like spin modulators3456, the electrical manipulation of spin transport in our 2D spin field-effect switch is observed at much higher temperature (up to 200 K versus few or sub K). It also displays well-defined ON and OFF states, which are easily controlled by the gate electric field instead of an oscillatory spin signal. Moreover, there is plenty of room for the optimization of the device performance. For instance, by incorporating tunnel barriers with higher resistance, the spin signal and thus the difference between the ON and OFF states could be increased by two orders of magnitude343536. The threshold voltage required to turn ON and OFF the device can be reduced by replacing SiO2 with a thinner dielectric of larger dielectric constant, such as HfO2 (ref. 37) or hexagonal BN2431. With the above improvements to the fabrication process, and considering the robust performance of MoS2 transistors at room temperature2324, a room-temperature 2D spin field-effect switch is envisioned. The recent advances in chemical growth of high quality 2D layered materials2138 and their heterostructure multilayers394041, as well as in homostructural42, and heterostructural36 tunnel barriers for spin injection, may well lead to large-scale integration of the current device architecture. Aside from the potential technological applications, the spin absorption effect in our experiments provides a solution to electrically inject spins into 2D semiconducting TMDs, which has so far been elusive due to the conductivity mismatch problem434445.

In conclusion, the seamless integration of two 2D layered materials with remarkably different spin–orbit coupling amplitudes leads to a device capable of both transporting and electrically controlling a spin current. The demonstrated 2D spin field-effect switch can improve the performance of search engines or pattern recognition circuits, wherein a large number of independent logic operations are executed in parallel154647. Furthermore, the vdW heterostructure at the core of our experiments opens the path for fundamental research of exotic transport properties predicted for TMDs202526.

Methods

Device fabrication

Fabrication of ML graphene samples uses the mechanical exfoliation method initiated in ref. 29. We first exfoliate bulk graphitic crystals onto a Nitto tape (Nitto SPV 224P) and repeat the cleavage process between three and five times until thin flakes can be identified visually by the eye. The Nitto tape with relatively thin flakes is pressed against a preheated Si substrate with 300 nm SiO2. After peeling off the Nitto tape, the substrate is examined under an optical microscope and ML graphene is identified by well-established optical contrast. We then prepare the MoS2/poly-dimethyl siloxane stamp following ref. 30. First, a MoS2 crystal is exfoliated twice using the Nitto tape and transferred on to a piece of poly-dimethyl siloxane (Gelpak PF GEL film WF × 4, 17 mil.). After identifying the desired few-layer MoS2 flake using optical contrast, it is transferred on top of graphene after slowly removing the viscoelastic stamp.

The lateral spin valve is formed following a standard nanofabrication procedure including electron-beam lithography, metal deposition and metal lift-off in acetone. 5 Å of Ti are deposited by electron-beam evaporation and left to oxidize in air for 0.5 h before depositing 35 nm of Co using electron-beam evaporation.

Electrical measurements

The measurements are performed in a Physical Property Measurement System by Quantum Design, using a ‘DC reversal' technique with a Keithley 2182, nanovoltmeter and a 6221 current source. A current bias of 10 μA is used unless stated in the text. Gate voltage is applied using a Keithley model 2636. The gate voltage is applied between the back of the doped Si substrate and the grounding electrode. As graphene layer on the bottom is ML, it does not fully screen the gate electric field. Therefore, the gate voltage modulates the charge carrier density in both graphene and the MoS2.

Data availability

All relevant data are available from the authors.

Additional information

How to cite this article: Yan, W. et al. A two-dimensional spin field-effect switch. Nat. Commun. 7, 13372 doi: 10.1038/ncomms13372 (2016).

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