Nanosecond spin lifetimes in single- and few-layer graphene-hBN heterostructures at room temperature.

Drögeler, Marc; Volmer, Frank; Wolter, Maik; Terrés, Bernat; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Güntherodt, Gernot; Stampfer, Christoph et al. · Nano Lett · 2014

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We present a new fabrication method of graphene spin-valve devices that yields enhanced spin and charge transport properties by improving both the electrode-to-graphene and graphene-to-substrate interface. First, we prepare Co/MgO spin injection electrodes onto Si(++)/SiO2. Thereafter, we mechanically transfer a graphene-hBN heterostructure onto the prepatterned electrodes. We show that room temperature spin transport in single-, bi-, and trilayer graphene devices exhibit nanosecond spin lifetimes with spin diffusion lengths reaching 10 μm combined with carrier mobilities exceeding 20,000 cm(2)/(V s).