Spin transport through metal-dichalcogenides layers: a study from first-principles calculations

Abstract

Spin transport through monolayer and trilayers of molybdenum dichalcogenides were studied considering Co as leads. Detailed investigations of the electronic structure of the Co/MoS2 interface and magnetic tri-junctions are carried out by using density functional theory calculations to understand transport behavior. The study revealed that new spin-polarized hybridized states appeared at the Fermi level due to the formation of Co/MoS2 interface that effectively acted as a spin filter and enhanced the spin injection efficiency of the systems. Spin-polarized current through the system as well as the magnetoresistance (MR) was estimated at different applied bias voltages. Large MR up to 78% was calculated for the trilayer MoS2 system at a relatively high applied bias voltage. The MR values are further improved by tuning the structure of the scattering region. A very large MR of 123% for MoS2/MoSe2/MoS2 trilayer at an applied bias 0.8 V was observed, which is much higher than the previously reported bias dependent MR values in similar systems. © 2020 IOP Publishing Ltd.