Designing cross-linked carbon nanotubes as perfect spin filter and spin valve

•The perfect spin filtering effect with the almost 100% spin polarization can be found.•The magnetoresistance effect with a magnetoresistance ratio larger than 104% can be observed.•The cross-linked way adopted by the η6-coordinated V atom can be extended to CNTs networks.

By applying nonequilibrium Green’s functions in combination with density-function theory, the spin-dependent transport properties of cross-linked carbon nanotube spintronic devices are investigated. Our calculations show that the perfect spin filtering effect with the almost 100% spin polarization, and the magnetoresistance effect with a magnetoresistance ratio larger than 104104% can be observed in the device. The occurrence of the perfect spin-filtering and magnetoresistance effects in the cross-linked carbon nanotube spintronic device provides the possibility for further improving the integration level of carbon nanotube networks. Moreover, the mechanisms for these interesting phenomena are suggested.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide