Direct Determination of Spin-Splitting Energy in Magnetic Graphene by Landau Fan Shifts

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a method to induce and measure large, tunable spin-splitting energies in graphene via magnetic exchange interaction with a ferrimagnetic insulator, advancing 2D spintronics applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to achieve and directly measure large, tunable spin-splitting energies in graphene using magnetic exchange interaction and Landau fan analysis.

Findings

Achieved spin-splitting energy up to 132 meV at zero magnetic field.

Demonstrated tunability of spin-splitting energy from 98 to 166 meV by cooling fields.

Validated experimental results with first-principles and machine learning calculations.

Abstract

Spin-polarized two-dimensional materials with large and tunable spin-splitting energy promise the field of 2D spintronics. While graphene has been a canonical 2D material, its spin properties and tunability are limited. Here, we demonstrate the emergence of robust spin-polarization in graphene with large and tunable spin-splitting energy of up to 132 meV at zero applied magnetic fields. The spin polarization is induced through a magnetic exchange interaction between graphene and the underlying ferrimagnetic oxide insulating layer, Tm3Fe5O12, as confirmed by its X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The spin-splitting energies are directly measured and visualized by the shift in their landau fan diagram mapped by analyzing the measured subnikov-de-Haas oscillations as a function of applied electric fields, showing consistent fit with our first-principles and machine learning calculations. Further, the observed spin-splitting energies can be tuned over a broad range between 98 and 166 meV by cooling fields. Our methods and results are applicable to other two-dimensional (magnetic) materials and heterostructures, and offer great potential for developing next-generation spin logic and memory devices.