Nonlocal spin transport in single walled carbon nanotube networks

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates nonlocal spin transport in single-walled carbon nanotube networks, revealing a spin diffusion length of up to 2.4 micrometers and potential for scalable spintronic applications.

Contribution

It reports the first observation of nonlocal spin injection and detection in SWCNT networks, showing spin transport over micrometer distances due to natural tunnel barriers.

Findings

Spin transport observed over 1 micrometer distance

Spin diffusion length estimated between 1.6 and 2.4 micrometers

Injected spin polarization ranges from 18% to 41%

Abstract

Spin transport in carbon-based materials has stimulated much interest due to their ballistic conductance and a long phase coherence length. While much research has been conducted on individual carbon nanotubes, current growth and placement techniques are incompatible with large-scale fabrication. Here we report nonlocal spin injection and detection in single wall carbon nanotube networks. We observe spin transport over a distance of 1 um, and extract a spin diffusion length of 1.6 - 2.4 um with an injected spin polarization from CoFe into nanotube network of 18 - 41%. Our observations demonstrate that spin transport is possible in carbon nanotube networks due to the formation of natural tunnel barriers between nanotubes and metallic contacts.