Negative differential spin conductance in doped zigzag graphene nanoribbons

TL;DR

This paper investigates spin-dependent charge transport in doped zigzag graphene nanoribbons, revealing negative differential spin conductance that could enable novel spintronic devices.

Contribution

It demonstrates how edge doping with Be atoms can induce negative differential spin conductance in ZGNRs, a novel finding for spin transport control.

Findings

Negative differential spin conductance observed with Be doping

Doping manipulates spin transport behavior

Potential applications in spintronic device design

Abstract

The spin dependent charge transport in zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) has been investigated by the nonequilibrium Green's function method combined with the density functional theory at the local spin density approximation. The current versus voltage curve shows distinguished behaviors for symmetric and asymmetric ZGNRs and the doping on the ZGNR edges can manipulate the spin transport. In special cases that a Be atom is substitutionally doped on one edge of the symmetric ZGNRs, one spin current shows negative differential resistance while the other increases monotonically with the bias. This property might be used to design spin oscillators or other devices for spintronics.