Perfect Spin Filter in a Tailored Zigzag Graphene Nanoribbon

Spin current distribution in antiferromagnetic zigzag graphene nanoribbons under transverse electric fields

The spin current transmission properties of narrow zigzag graphene nanoribbons (zGNRs) have been the focus of much computational research, investigating the potential application of zGNRs in spintronic devices. Doping, fuctionalization, edge modification, and external electric fields have been studied as methods for spin current control, and the performance of zGNRs initialized in both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin states has been modeled. Recent work has shown that precise fabrication of narrow zGNRs is possible, and has addressed long debated questions on their magnetic order and stability. This work has revived interest in the application of antiferromagnetic zGNR configurations in spintronics. A general ab initio analysis of narrow antiferromagnetic zGNR performance under a combination of bias voltage and transverse electric field loading shows that their current transmission characteristics differ sharply from those of their ferromagnetic counterparts. At relatively modest field strengths, both majority and minority spin currents react strongly to the applied field. Analysis of band gaps and current transmission pathways explains the presence of negative differential resistance effects and the development of spatially periodic electron transport structures in these nanoribbons.

Penta-Hexa-Graphene Nanoribbons: Intrinsic Magnetism and Edge Effect Induce Spin-Gapless Semiconducting and Half-Metallic Properties

Two-dimensional materials with intrinsic long-range ordered magnetic moments have drawn a lot of attention. However, for practical applications, whether or not the magnetism is stable in their nanostructures has not been revealed. Here, based on the recently proposed magnetic penta-hexa-graphene, we study the electronic and magnetic properties of its nanoribbons (named PHGNRs). The results show that the PHGNRs have intrinsic robust magnetic moments that are different from zigzag graphene nanoribbons, where the magnetic moments caused by the edge effect are vulnerable. Moreover, the magnetic ground states, namely, ferromagnetic (FM) or antiferromagnetic (AFM), can be transformed by changing the width of PHGNRs. Most interestingly, under the FM ground state, the spin-polarized electronic properties reveal that the zigzag PHGNRs transform from spin-gapless semiconductors (SGSs) to half-metals, as the width of nanoribbons increases, while all the armchair PHGNRs are magnetic semiconductors. Furthermore, by considering different edge effects caused by the residual carbon atoms on the edges, the PHGNRs can further derive different types of SGSs, as well as half-metals. Our work suggests that the PHGNRs possessing intrinsic robust magnetic moments have potential applications in the field of spintronic devices.