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Spin transport in molecules studied by Fe3O4/molecule nanoparticles

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Abstract

In this work, we synthesize single molecular layer coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles to form the network of the molecular junction spin valves. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles chemically bond with molecules without any physically absorbed molecules, leading to one monolayer molecule coated on nanoparticles. The magnetoresistance (MR) of cold-pressed Fe3O4/oleic acid nanoparticles is more than two times larger than bare Fe3O4 nanoparticles, indicating weaker spin scattering in molecules. Furthermore, the MR ratio is as high as ∼21 % at room temperature for Fe3O4/alkane molecule nanoparticles. Interestingly, even though the resistance spans about two decades as the alkane molecular length varies from 0.7 to 2.5 nm, the MR ratio stays approximately constant. This molecular length independent spin valve MR, originated from the weaker hyperfine interaction strength of the σ-electrons in alkane molecules, entails room-temperature spin-conserving transport in molecular materials. Using the size of ∼500 nm Fe3O4 nanoparticles, a large MR is achieved in a relatively low magnetic field. This feature opens a door for the development of future spin-based molecular electronics. Moreover, spin injection at the interface of Fe3O4/stearic acid molecule is investigated in a comparative study between Fe3O4 nanoparticles chemically bonded (ChemNPs) and physically absorbed (PhyNPs) molecules. A MR of 12 % at room temperature is observed in ChemNPs, in sharp contrast to the zero MR ratio in PhyNPs, reflecting that the chemical bonding is crucial for spin injection. These results show that the hybrid nanoparticles provide a simple approach to study the spin transport in molecules.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10974084, 11222435, and 11023002), the National Basic Research Program of China (2010CB923402, 2013CB922103), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.

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  1. National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, 22 Hankou Road, Nanjing, 210093, China

    F. J. Yue, S. Wang & D. Wu

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  1. F. J. Yue
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Yue, F.J., Wang, S. & Wu, D. Spin transport in molecules studied by Fe3O4/molecule nanoparticles. Appl. Phys. A 111, 347–354 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-7625-3

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