Perfect spin filtering effect in ultrasmall helical zigzag graphene nanoribbons

The spin-polarized transport properties of helical zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) are investigated by first-principles calculations. It is found that although all helical ZGNRs have similar density of states and edge states, they show obviously different transport characteristics depending on the curling manners. ZGNRs curled along zigzag orientation exhibit perfect spin filtering effect with a large spin-split gap near the Fermi level, while ZGNRs curled along armchair orientation behave as conventional conductors for both two spin channels. The spin filtering effect will be weakened with the increase of either ribbon width or curling diameter. The results suggest that ultrasmall helical ZGNRs have important potential applications in spintronics and flexible electronics.