Spin hall effect and weak antilocalization in graphene/transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructures

Abstract

Since its discovery, graphene has been a promising material for spintronics: its low spin-orbit coupling, negligible hyperfine interaction, and high electron mobility, allow it to transport spin unaltered over long distances. However, the properties needed for such outstanding transport also prevent it from being useful for active spintronics, where strong spin-orbit coupling is needed to create and manipulate spin currents. In previous experimental studies, researchers have found evidences suggesting that spin-orbit coupling (SOC) can be enhanced by combining graphene with transition metal dichalcogenides. These observations were also supported by a theoretical prediction, where they show that these heterostructures present different types of spin-orbit interactions, a necessary prerequisite for the observation of spin Hall Effect and Weak Antilocalization. Using numerical simulations, we predict that measurable spin Hall Effect and Weak Antilocalization is possible in these heterostructures. Additionally, we explored the robustness of these effects against different types of disorder, founding an unexpected dependence with intervalley scattering. Finally we propose experimental guidelines for the observation of both effects.