Determination of interface atomic structure and its impact on spin transport using Z-contrast microscopy and density-functional theory

Thomas J. Zega; Aubrey T. Hanbicki; Steven C. Erwin; Igor Žutić; George Kioseoglou; Connie H. Li; Berend T. Jonker; Rhonda M. Stroud

doi:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.196101

Determination of interface atomic structure and its impact on spin transport using Z-contrast microscopy and density-functional theory

Thomas J. Zega, Aubrey T. Hanbicki, Steven C. Erwin, Igor Žutić, George Kioseoglou, Connie H. Li, Berend T. Jonker, Rhonda M. Stroud

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

We combine Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy with density-functional-theory calculations to determine the atomic structure of the Fe/AlGaAs interface in spin-polarized light-emitting diodes. A 44% increase in spin-injection efficiency occurs after a low-temperature anneal, which produces an ordered, coherent interface consisting of a single atomic plane of alternating Fe and As atoms. First-principles transport calculations indicate that the increase in spin-injection efficiency is due to the abruptness and coherency of the annealed interface.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	196101
Journal	Physical review letters
Volume	96
Issue number	19
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.196101
State	Published - 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy(all)

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title = "Determination of interface atomic structure and its impact on spin transport using Z-contrast microscopy and density-functional theory",

abstract = "We combine Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy with density-functional-theory calculations to determine the atomic structure of the Fe/AlGaAs interface in spin-polarized light-emitting diodes. A 44% increase in spin-injection efficiency occurs after a low-temperature anneal, which produces an ordered, coherent interface consisting of a single atomic plane of alternating Fe and As atoms. First-principles transport calculations indicate that the increase in spin-injection efficiency is due to the abruptness and coherency of the annealed interface.",

author = "Zega, {Thomas J.} and Hanbicki, {Aubrey T.} and Erwin, {Steven C.} and Igor {\v Z}uti{\'c} and George Kioseoglou and Li, {Connie H.} and Jonker, {Berend T.} and Stroud, {Rhonda M.}",

year = "2006",

doi = "https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.196101",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "96",

journal = "Physical review letters",

issn = "0031-9007",

publisher = "American Physical Society",

number = "19",

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T1 - Determination of interface atomic structure and its impact on spin transport using Z-contrast microscopy and density-functional theory

AU - Zega, Thomas J.

AU - Hanbicki, Aubrey T.

AU - Erwin, Steven C.

AU - Žutić, Igor

AU - Kioseoglou, George

AU - Li, Connie H.

AU - Jonker, Berend T.

AU - Stroud, Rhonda M.

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - We combine Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy with density-functional-theory calculations to determine the atomic structure of the Fe/AlGaAs interface in spin-polarized light-emitting diodes. A 44% increase in spin-injection efficiency occurs after a low-temperature anneal, which produces an ordered, coherent interface consisting of a single atomic plane of alternating Fe and As atoms. First-principles transport calculations indicate that the increase in spin-injection efficiency is due to the abruptness and coherency of the annealed interface.

AB - We combine Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy with density-functional-theory calculations to determine the atomic structure of the Fe/AlGaAs interface in spin-polarized light-emitting diodes. A 44% increase in spin-injection efficiency occurs after a low-temperature anneal, which produces an ordered, coherent interface consisting of a single atomic plane of alternating Fe and As atoms. First-principles transport calculations indicate that the increase in spin-injection efficiency is due to the abruptness and coherency of the annealed interface.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646564981&partnerID=8YFLogxK

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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.196101

DO - https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.196101

M3 - Article

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 96

JO - Physical review letters

JF - Physical review letters

IS - 19

M1 - 196101

ER -

Determination of interface atomic structure and its impact on spin transport using Z-contrast microscopy and density-functional theory

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