Manipulating spin spatial splitter by δ-doping in hybrid magnetic–electric-barrier nanostructure

•Influence of the δ-doping on a spin spatial splitter is theoretically explored.•The degree of spin-polarized lateral displacement of electrons depends strongly on the δ-doping.•A controllable spin spatial splitter can be achieved for spintronics.

Based on a composite magnetic–electric-barrier nanostructure, a spin spatial splitter was proposed recently. In order to control the spin-polarized lateral displacement (LD) of electrons, a tunable δ-potential is introduced into this device by the atomic layer doping technique. Theoretical analysis together with numerical simulation shows that both magnitude and sign of spin-polarized LD change dramatically with the height and/or the position of the δ-doping. Consequently, a structurally tunable spin spatial splitter can be achieved for spintronics applications.