Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

Exploiting the spin degrees of freedom of electrons in solid state devices is considered as one of the alternative state variables for information storage and processing beyond the charge based technology. However, one of the primary challenges in this field is the efficient creation, transport and control of spin polarization at room temperature. In this regard, two-dimensional (2D) atomic crystals and their heterostructures provide an ideal platform for spintronics. Recently, we demonstrated a long distance spin transport over 16 µm and spin lifetimes up to 1.2 ns in large area CVD graphene at room temperature [1]. In order to achieve an efficient spin injection into graphene, we used further used h-BN tunnel barriers with large tunnel spin polarization up to 65 % at room temperature [2]. More recently, we demonstrated gate control of spin polarization by employing graphene/MoS2 heterostructures at room temperature [3]. Our findings demonstrate  all-electrical spintronic device at room temperature with the creation, transport and control of the spins in 2D materials heterostructures, which can be key building blocks in future device architectures.

[1] MV Kamalakar, G. Chris, A Dankert, SP Dash; Nature Communication, 6, 6766 (2015).

[2] MV Kamalakar, A Dankert, P. Kelly, SP Dash; Scientific Reports, 6, 21168 (2016).

[3] A Dankert, SP Dash; arXiv:1610.06326 (2016). Under review in Nature Nano.

Saroj Prasad Dash is an Associate Professor and group leader at Dept. Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. His research focuses on spin and quantum transport in graphene, semiconductors, topological insulators, and van der Waals heterostructures of 2D materials. He received a PhD in Physics from Max Planck Institute (Stuttgart, Germany) in 2007. His previous positions include postdocs at Uni. of Twente and Uni. of Groningen in Netherlands for three years. He has published >33 high impact articles (citations:1637, h-index:18, avg. citation per article: 50) and given >35 invited talks in international conferences and seminars. He is presently principal investigator of several Swedish and European Union (EU) projects including the Graphene Flagship. He is presently also an editorial board member of Nature publishing Scientific Reports.