Manipulating spin-polarized photocurrents in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides.

ABSTRACT: Manipulating spin polarization of electrons in nonmagnetic semiconductors by means of electric fields or optical fields is an essential theme of the conceptual nonmagnetic semiconductor-based spintronics. Here we experimentally demonstrate an electric method of detecting spin polarization in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) generated by circularly polarized optical pumping. The spin-polarized photocurrent is achieved through the valley-dependent optical selection rules and the spin-valley locking in monolayer WS2, and electrically detected by a lateral spin-valve structure with ferromagnetic contacts. The demonstrated long spin-valley lifetime, the unique valley-contrasted physics, and the spin-valley locking make monolayer WS2 an unprecedented candidate for semiconductor-

SUBMITTER: Xie L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4833241 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature