Room-temperature spin transport in n-Ge probed by four-terminal nonlocal measurements

TL;DR

This study demonstrates room-temperature electrical spin injection and detection in n-type germanium using four-terminal nonlocal measurements, revealing a spin diffusion length of about 0.44 micrometers and highlighting the suitability of Schottky tunnel contacts for Ge spintronics.

Contribution

First demonstration of room-temperature spin transport in n-Ge using four-terminal nonlocal methods with Schottky tunnel contacts.

Findings

Spin diffusion length in n-Ge is approximately 0.44 μm at 296 K.

Reproducible spin signals observed at low bias voltages with low RA values.

Schottky tunnel contacts are more suitable than ferromagnet/MgO contacts for Ge spintronic devices.

Abstract

We demonsrtate electrical spin injection and detection in $n$-type Ge ($n$-Ge) at room temperature using four-terminal nonlocal spin-valve and Hanle-effect measurements in lateral spin-valve (LSV) devices with Heusler-alloy Schottky tunnel contacts. The spin diffusion length ($\lambda$$_{\rm Ge}$) of the Ge layer used ($n \sim$ 1 $\times$ 10$^{19}$ cm$^{-3}$) at 296 K is estimated to be $\sim$ 0.44 $\pm$ 0.02 $\mu$m. Room-temperature spin signals can be observed reproducibly at the low bias voltage range ($\le$ 0.7 V) for LSVs with relatively low resistance-area product ($RA$) values ($\le$ 1 k$\Omega$$\mu$m$^{2}$). This means that the Schottky tunnel contacts used here are more suitable than ferromagnet/MgO tunnel contacts ($RA \ge$ 100 k$\Omega$$\mu$m$^{2}$) for developing Ge spintronic applications.