Bottom-up nano-integration route for modified carbon nanotube spintronic device fabrication

Abstract

This study is focused on a bottom-up nano-integration route for the production of carbon based spintronic devices. In order to enhance magnetic interactions along nanotube walls a controlled synthetic chemical technique is utilized, this method is based on a two-step method which firstly looks at the functionalization of nanotubes (carbonyl groups) and subsequently the attachment of an organo-metallic complex to the carbonyl group. The system is then characterized in bulk, including magnetometry analysis as well as transport at low temperatures. Mesoscopic electron-spin correlations have been observed as well as a clear crossover from superparamagnetism to weakly ferromagnetic depending on the functionalization technique. We then demonstrate a novel fabrication technique based on nano-integration utilizing a nano-tweezer created from a memory metal alloy. The devices envisioned include quantum rings, crossed junction as well as fine network structures that can be manipulated using nano-probes. As the carbon nanotubes have been functionalized with nanoscale magnetic molecules, such devices are interesting for novel spintronic applications.