Tunable spin-polarized edge currents in proximitized transition metal dichalcogenides

TL;DR

This paper investigates how proximity to ferromagnetic EuO induces tunable, spin-polarized edge currents in MoTe2 nanoribbons, offering potential for spintronic device applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates the control of spin-polarized edge states in TMDs via proximity effects, introducing a model for tunable spin currents in MoTe2/EuO heterostructures.

Findings

Edge states are strongly spin-polarized and localized along zigzag edges.

Proximity effects induce tunable spin-polarized currents in the nanoribbons.

Hybrid MoTe2/EuO structures can be used as building blocks for spintronic devices.

Abstract

We explore proximity-induced ferromagnetism on transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), focusing on molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe$_{2}$) ribbons with zigzag edges, deposited on ferromagnetic europium oxide (EuO). A three-orbital tight-binding model incorporates the exchange and Rashba fields induced by proximity to the EuO substrate. For in-gap Fermi levels, electronic modes in the nanoribbon are strongly spin-polarized and localized along the edges, acting as one-dimensional (1D) conducting channels with tunable spin-polarized currents. Hybrid structures such as the MoTe$_{2}$/EuO configuration can serve as building blocks for spintronic devices, and provide versatile platforms to further understand proximity effects in diverse materials systems.