journal article·2022-05Open access

Gate-tuneable and chirality-dependent charge-to-spin conversion in tellurium nanowires

Francesco Calavalle, Manuel Suárez-Rodríguez, Beatriz Martín-García, Annika Johansson, Diogo C. Vaz, Haozhe Yang, Igor V. Maznichenko, Sergey Ostanin, Aurelio Mateo-Alonso, Andrey Chuvilin, Ingrid Mertig, Marco Gobbi, Fèlix Casanova, Luis E. Hueso

Nature Materials· Volume 21· Issue 5

Abstract

Chiral materials are an ideal playground for exploring the relation between symmetry, relativistic effects and electronic transport. For instance, chiral organic molecules have been intensively studied to electrically generate spin-polarized currents in the last decade, but their poor electronic conductivity limits their potential for applications. Conversely, chiral inorganic materials such as tellurium have excellent electrical conductivity, but their potential for enabling the electrical control of spin polarization in devices remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate the all-electrical generation, manipulation and detection of spin polarization in chiral single-crystalline tellurium nanowires. By recording a large (up to 7%) and chirality-dependent unidirectional magnetoresistance, we show that the orientation of the electrically generated spin polarization is determined by the nanowire handedness and uniquely follows the current direction, while its magnitude can be manipulated by an electrostatic gate. Our results pave the way for the development of magnet-free chirality-based spintronic devices.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: 2D Materials and Applications · Quantum and electron transport phenomena · Topological Materials and Phenomena

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

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