Effects of a ferromagnetic metal stripe and a Schottky metal stripe on the electron transport in a nanostructure

In this paper, the spin-dependent electron transport in a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) modulated by a ferromagnetic (FM) metal stripe and a Schottky metal (SM) stripe is in detail studied. It is found that the position and the width of the SM stripe as well as the incident energy of electron play an important role on the spin polarization. It is also found that the spin polarization is obviously dependent on the electric-barrier height induced by an applied voltage to the SM stripe and such a device can be used as a voltage-tunable electron-spin filter.

► The electron transport is studied in a nanostructure with ferromagnetic-Schottky metal stripe.
► The spin polarization depends on the position and the width of the Schottky metal stripe.
► The spin polarization is dependent on the electric-barrier height and the electron energy.