Spin dependent transport of ``nonmagnetic metal/zigzag nanotube encapsulating magnetic atoms/nonmagnetic metal'' junctions

TL;DR

This paper proposes a theoretical study of a novel junction involving a zigzag carbon nanotube with magnetic atoms, demonstrating a significant magnetoresistance effect influenced by spin-polarized edges and magnetic atom spins.

Contribution

It introduces a new model of a nonmagnetic metal/zigzag nanotube with magnetic atom encapsulation, analyzing its spin-dependent transport properties and MR effect.

Findings

MR ratio of about 100% when U/|t| > 0.8

Large MR effect depends on magnetic atom spin orientation

Spin-polarized edges significantly influence transport

Abstract

Towards a novel magnetoresistance (MR) device with a carbon nanotube, we propose ``nonmagnetic metal/zigzag nanotube encapsulating magnetic atoms/nonmagnetic metal'' junctions. We theoretically investigate how spin-polarized edges of the nanotube and the encapsulated magnetic atoms influence on transport. When the on-site Coulomb energy divided by the magnitude of transfer integral, $U/|t|$, is larger than 0.8, large MR effect due to the direction of spins of magnetic atoms, which has the magnitude of the MR ratio of about 100%, appears reflecting such spin-polarized edges.