Persistent spin textures in halide perovskites induced by uniaxial stress

TL;DR

This study predicts that applying uniaxial stress to hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites can induce persistent spin textures, which are beneficial for spintronics, by using first-principles density functional simulations.

Contribution

It demonstrates, through first-principles simulations, that uniaxial stress can control spin textures in perovskites, enabling flexible spintronic device applications.

Findings

Uniaxial stress can transform Rashba spin textures into persistent ones.

The material exhibits flexibility and piezoelectricity, suitable for flexible devices.

Stress induces a transition from Rashba to persistent spin textures in the material.

Abstract

Persistent spin textures are highly desirable for applications in spintronics as they may allow for long carrier spin lifetimes. However, they are also rare as only four point groups can host such textures, and even for these four groups, the emergence of persistent spin textures requires a delicate balance between coupling parameters, which control the strength of spin-momentum interactions. We use first-principles density functional simulations to predict the possibility of achieving these desirable spin textures through the application of uniaxial stress. Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite MPSnBr$_3$ (MP = CH$_3$PH$_3$) is a ferroelectric semiconductor which exhibits persistent spin textures in the near to its conduction band minimum and mostly Rashba type in the vicinity of its valence band maximum. Application of uniaxial stress leads to the gradual evolution of the valence bands spin textures from mostly Rashba type to persistent ones under tensile load and to pure Rashba or persistent ones under compressive load. We also report that the material exhibits flexibility, rubber-like response, and both positive and negative piezoelectric constants. Combination of such properties may create opportunities for a flexible/rubbery spintronic devices.