Electrical Detection of Charge-to-spin and Spin-to-Charge Conversion in a Topological Insulator Bi2Te3 Using BN/Al2O3 Hybrid Tunnel Barrier

Li, C. H.; van ‘t Erve, O. M.  J.; Yan, C.; Li, L.; Jonker, B. T.

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-28547-y

Electrical Detection of Charge-to-spin and Spin-to-Charge Conversion in a Topological Insulator Bi₂Te₃ Using BN/Al₂O₃ Hybrid Tunnel Barrier

Journal Article · Fri Jul 06 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28547-y· OSTI ID:1499984

Li, C. H. ^[1]; van ‘t Erve, O. M. J. ^[2]; Yan, C. ^[3]; Li, L. ^[3]; Jonker, B. T. ^[2]

Naval Research Lab. (NRL), Washington, DC (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division; OSTI
Naval Research Lab. (NRL), Washington, DC (United States). Materials Science and Technology Division
West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy

One of the most striking properties of three-dimensional topological insulators (TIs) is spin-momentum locking, where the spin is locked at right angles to momentum and hence an unpolarized charge current creates a net spin polarization. Alternatively, if a net spin is injected into the TI surface state system, it is distinctively associated with a unique carrier momentum and hence should generate a charge accumulation, as in the so-called inverse Edelstein effect. Here using a Fe/Al₂O₃/BN tunnel barrier, we demonstrate both effects in a single device in Bi₂Te₃: the electrical detection of the spin accumulation generated by an unpolarized current flowing through the surface states, and that of the charge accumulation generated by spins injected into the surface state system. This work is the first to utilize BN as part of a hybrid tunnel barrier on TI, where we observed a high spin polarization of 93% for the TI surfaces states. The reverse spin-to-charge measurement is an independent confirmation that spin and momentum are locked in the surface states of TI, and offers additional avenues for spin manipulation. It further demonstrates the robustness and versatility of electrical access to the spin system within TI surface states, an important step towards its utilization in TI-based spintronics devices.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0017632

OSTI ID:: 1499984

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Vol. 8; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited By (3)

Reply to: “On the understanding of current-induced spin polarization of three-dimensional topological insulators” Li, C. H.; van ‘t Erve, O. M. J.; Rajput, S. Nature Communications, Vol. 10, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10396-6	journal	June 2019
Electrical detection of current generated spin in topological insulator surface states: Role of interface resistance Li, Connie H.; Erve, Olaf M. J. van t.; Yan, Chenhui arXiv https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.1810.00757	preprint	January 2018
Electrical detection of current generated spin in topological insulator surface states: Role of interface resistance Li, C. H.; van ‘t Erve, O. M. J.; Yan, C. Scientific Reports, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43302-7	journal	May 2019

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