Observation of single-spin Dirac fermions at the graphene/ferromagnet interface.
With the discovery and first characterization of graphene, its potential for spintronic applications was recognized immediately. Since then, an active field of research has developed trying to overcome the practical hurdles. One of the most severe challenges is to find appropriate interfaces between graphene and ferromagnetic layers, which are granting efficient injection of spin-polarized electrons. Here, we show that graphene grown under appropriate conditions on Co(0001) demonstrates perfect structural properties and simultaneously exhibits highly spin-polarized charge carriers. The latter was conclusively proven by observation of a single-spin Dirac cone near the Fermi level. This was accomplished experimentally using spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, and theoretically with density functional calculations. Our results demonstrate that the graphene/Co(0001) system represents an interesting candidate for applications in devices using the spin degree of freedom.
†St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Dmitry
D
Usachov
†St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia.|‡Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Strasse 77, 50937 Köln, Germany.|¶IFW Dresden, P.O. Box 270116, D-01171 Dresden, Germany.
Alexander
A
Fedorov
§Tomsk State University, Lenina Avenue 36, 634050 Tomsk, Russia.|∥Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Departamento de Fisica de Materiales and CFM-MPC UPV/EHU, 20080 San Sebastian, Spain.
Mikhail M
MM
Otrokov
†St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia.|⊥Institute of Solid State Physics, Dresden University of Technology, D-01062 Dresden, Germany.
Alla
A
Chikina
†St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Oleg
O
Vilkov
†St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Anatoly
A
Petukhov
†St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Artem G
AG
Rybkin
§Tomsk State University, Lenina Avenue 36, 634050 Tomsk, Russia.|#Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademicheskii, 2/4, 634021 Tomsk, Russia.
Yury M
YM
Koroteev
§Tomsk State University, Lenina Avenue 36, 634050 Tomsk, Russia.|∥Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Departamento de Fisica de Materiales and CFM-MPC UPV/EHU, 20080 San Sebastian, Spain.
Evgueni V
EV
Chulkov
†St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Vera K
VK
Adamchuk
‡Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicher Strasse 77, 50937 Köln, Germany.
Alexander
A
Grüneis
⊥Institute of Solid State Physics, Dresden University of Technology, D-01062 Dresden, Germany.
Clemens
C
Laubschat
†St. Petersburg State University, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia.|⊥Institute of Solid State Physics, Dresden University of Technology, D-01062 Dresden, Germany.
Denis V
DV
Vyalikh
Dirac cone; Graphene; electronic structure; spin polarization; spin-resolved ARPES