Half-Metallicity and Efficient Spin Injection in AlN/GaN:Cr (0001) Heterostructure

Julia E. Medvedeva, Missouri University of Science and Technology
X. Y. Cui
C. Stampfl
N. Newman
Arthur J. Freeman

This document has been relocated to http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/phys_facwork/353

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Abstract

First-principles investigations of the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of Cr-doped AlN/GaN (0001) heterostructures reveal the possibility of efficient spin injection from a ferromagnetic GaN:Cr electrode through an AlN tunnel barrier. We demonstrate that Cr atoms segregate into the GaN region and that these interfaces retain their half-metallic behavior leading to a complete, i.e., 100%, spin polarization of the conduction electrons. This property makes the wide band-gap nitrides doped with Cr to be excellent candidates for high-efficiency magnetoelectronic devices.