Large areas of graphene are able to preserve electron spin for a longer period and transmit it far greater than previously thought. Scientists say this has created opportunities for spintronics development with the goal of manufacturing more efficient processors and faster memory in computers. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg (citation below) published their results in Nature Communications, an academic journal. Saroj Dash (study leader) said that graphene will be a hot topic in research and could help to put it on the radar for spintronics applications. Graphene electrons retain their magnetization and spin, which is what gives graphene its pink arrows, much better than ordinary conductors like copper or aluminum. Spintronics is a method that uses the quantum state electrons to store data. The spin-based data needs only to move about a millionth of a millimetre. This is fortunate because spin, an electron property, is very short-lived in many materials and is fragile. The spintronics technology speeds up processors’ work. However, the use of spin to carry data is more advantageous than using electric charges. The speed at which processors can work could be accelerated by spintronics, which uses much less energy than the current technology. Graphene is a promising material for expanding the application of spintronics to the electronics industry. The thin carbon film is a very electrical conductor and has, theoretically, the rare ability of keeping the electrons with their spin intact. Professor Dash stated: “In future spin based components it is expected the electrons will be able to move several tens to micrometers with spins aligned.” Metals, like copper or aluminium, are not capable of handling this. Graphene seems to be the best material currently.” Graphene production is done by a few companies, using a variety of methods. All of these are in the early stages of their development. This means that graphene of high quality can only be found in small quantities. Larger graphene, however, is made in such a manner as to have substandard quality or other problems for the electronics industry. Chalmers research team has now challenged this assumption. Chemical deposition produces CVD graphene. The scientists used this to conduct their experiments. This method has its drawbacks, including graphene that is rough and wrinkled. It is possible to make graphene at an industrial scale. Researchers explained that CVD graphene is also possible to be removed from its copper foil substrate and lifted onto silicon wafers, the standard material in the semiconductor industry. Although the current material is not perfect, scientists are now able to show spin parameters that six times exceed those registered previously for CVD graphene using a similar substrate. Venkata Kamalakar from Chalmers, the first author of the paper, stated: “This is encouraging because it suggests the possibility of further improving the spin parameters as we develop our method of manufacturing.” Removing reliance on semiconductors. The goal is to not only send data in a new material, or to replace semiconductors or metals with graphene but also to create a totally new way to perform logical operations and store data. It would allow digital technology to move beyond the current dependency on semiconductors if this step succeeds. Prof. Prof. Dash stated that graphene has zero band gaps and is a great conductor. In spintronics, there are no band gaps for switching between one or zero and on/off. Instead, the electron’s spin orientations control this. The authors stated that graphene with its exceptional spin conduction capabilities is likely to be used in such a context. Graphene is the strongest, most durable, lightest and thinnest known material. It could revolutionize many industries and technologies. Citation: “Long distance spin communication in chemical vapour deposited graphene,” M. Venkata Kamalakar, Christiaan Groenveld, Andre Dankert & Saroj P. Dash. Nature Communications. Published 10 April 2015. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7766. Video – Graphene
