A. Avsar: Spin transport in novel two-dimensional materials and van der Waals heterostructures

Electron spin is an important degree of freedom which can complement charge in information storage and logic devices. With respect to the material selection for spintronics, two-dimensional (2D) materials and their van der Waals heterostructures offer new opportunities that are unfeasible in bulk materials. In this talk, I will present our recent spin transport results obtained with 2D materials and their van der Waals heterostructures.

I will first discuss basics of graphene spintronics and our attempts for solving some of its major issues. Our advancements to graphene spintronics include nondestructive optical spin injection into graphene, realization of spin switch effect and enhancement of its very weak spin orbit coupling strength. These have been achieved through proximity coupling by creating artificial interfaces with other 2D crystals. Then, I will discuss our charge and spin transport measurements performed in 2D semiconductor materials. I will introduce ultra-thin, semiconducting black phosphorus as a promising material for possible spintronics applications requiring rectification and amplification actions.

Finally, I will discuss our quantum transport and optic measurements probing the spin/valley dynamics at the conduction and valance bands of semiconducting monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides.