Colossal in-plane magnetoresistance ratio of graphene sandwiched with Ni nanostructures

Abstract

In this study, we present a theoretical study on the in-plane conductance of graphene partially sandwiched between Ni(111) nanostructures with a width of ∼12.08 Å. In the sandwiched part, the gapped Dirac cone of the graphene was controlled using a pseudospin by changing the magnetic alignment of the Ni(111) nanostructures. Upon considering the antiparallel configuration of Ni(111) nanostructures, the transmission probability calculation of the in-plane conductance of graphene shows a gap-like transmission at E − E_F = 0.2 and 0.65 eV from the pd-hybridization and controllable Dirac cone of graphene, respectively. In the parallel configuration, the transmission probability calculation showed a profile similar to that of the pristine graphene. High and colossal magnetoresistance ratios of 284% and 3100% were observed at E − E_F = 0.65 eV and 0.2 eV, respectively. Furthermore, a magnetoresistance beyond 3100% was expected at E − E_F = 0.65 eV when the width of the Ni(111) nanostructures on the nanometer scale was considered.