Highly interface-dependent spin transport in an Fe–Mn(DBTAA)–Fe single molecule spintronic device

Abstract

Understanding the spinterface between magnetic electrodes and molecules, and realizing the controllable spin filtering effect, are crucial for the development of high-performance molecular devices, but both still face big challenges. Here, based on first-principles calculations of an Fe–Mn(DBTAA)–Fe single molecule spintronic device, we unveil that spin filtering efficiency is highly dependent on interface configurations, which can modulate and even reverse the spin polarization of tunnelling electrons. For Fe–Mn(DBTAA)–Fe, a varied spin filtering from −93% to +75% is observed. The underlying mechanism could be attributed to the distinct magnetic and electronic couplings between the Fe electrode and the Mn(DBTAA) molecule in different interface configurations. This work not only highlights the importance of a magnetic electrode–molecule interface, but also implies that through suitable interface design, the performance, e.g., of the spin filtering channel of single molecule spintronic devices, can be flexibly tuned.