Spin transport in antiferromagnetic insulators: progress and challenges

• Published in: NPG Asia materials Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Hou, Dazhi, Qiu, Zhiyong, Saitoh, Eiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 12.07.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/301/119/1001; 639/301/119/2793; 639/766/119/997; 639/766/25; Antiferromagnetism; Biomaterials; Channels; Chemistry and Materials Science; Conduction electrons; Electron diffusion; Electron spin; Energy Systems; Ferromagnetism; Insulators; Magnetism; Magnetoresistance; Magnetoresistivity; Materials Science; Optical and Electronic Materials; Perspective; Spintronics; Structural Materials; Surface and Interface Science; Switching; Temperature dependence; Thin Films
• ISSN: 1884-4049; 1884-4057
• DOI: 10.1038/s41427-019-0135-9

Spin transport is a key process in the operation of spin-based devices that has been the focus of spintronics research for the last two decades. Conductive materials, such as semiconductors and metals, in which the spin transport relies on electron diffusion, have been employed as the channels for spin transport in most studies. Due to the absence of conduction electrons, the potential to be a spin channel has long been neglected for insulators. However, since the demonstration of spin transmission through a ferromagnetic insulator, it was realized that insulators with magnetic ordering can also serve as channels for spin transport. Here, the recent progress of spin transport in antiferromagnetic insulators is briefly described with an introduction to the experimental techniques. The observations regarding the temperature dependence of spin transmission, spin current switching and the negative spin Hall magnetoresistance are discussed. We also include the challenges for developing the functionality of antiferromagnetic insulators as well as the unresolved problems from the experimental observations. Spin transport is the key process for the operation of spinbased devices. Here the recent progress of spin transport in antiferromagnetic insulators (AFMI) is briefed. The observations of the temperature dependence of spin transmission, spin current switching in AFMI and the negative spin Hall magnetoresistance are discussed. The challenges for developing the functionality of antiferromagnetic insulator as well as the unresolved problems from the experimental observations are also discussed.