The single-molecule magnet (SMM) is demonstrated here to transform conventional magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ), a memory device used in present-day computers, into solar cells. For the first time, we demonstrated an electronic spin-dependent solar cell effect on an SMM-transformed MTJ under illumination from unpolarized white light. We patterned cross-junction-shaped devices forming a CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB-based MTJ. The MgO barrier thickness at the intersection between the two exposed junction edges was less than the SMM extent, which enabled the SMM molecules to serve as channels to conduct spin-dependent transport. The SMM channels yielded a region of long-range magnetic ordering around these engineered molecular junctions. Our SMM possessed a hexanuclear [Mn6(μ3-O)2(H2N-sao)6(6-atha)2(EtOH)6] [H2N-saoH = salicylamidoxime, 6-atha = 6-acetylthiohexanoate] complex and thiols end groups to form bonds with metal films. SMM-doped MTJs were shown to exhibit a solar cell effect and yielded ≈ 80 mV open-circuit voltage and ≈ 10 mA/cm2 saturation current density under illumination from one sun equivalent radiation dose. A room temperature Kelvin Probe AFM (KPAFM) study provided direct evidence that the SMM transformed the electronic properties of the MTJ's electrodes over a lateral area in excess of several thousand times larger in extent than the area spanned by the molecular junctions themselves. The decisive factor in observing this spin photovoltaic effect is the formation of SMM spin channels between the two different ferromagnetic electrodes, which in turn is able to catalyze the long-range transformation in each electrode around the junction area. 
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                            Exploring room-temperature transport of single-molecule magnet-based molecular spintronics devices using the magnetic tunnel junction as a device platform
                        
                    
    
            A device architecture utilizing a single-molecule magnet (SMM) as a device element between two ferromagnetic electrodes may open vast opportunities to create novel molecular spintronics devices. Here, we report a method of connecting an SMM to the ferromagnetic electrodes. We utilized a nickel (Ni)–AlO x –Ni magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) with the exposed side edges as a test bed. In the present work, we utilized an SMM with a hexanuclear [Mn 6 (μ 3 -O) 2 (H 2 N-sao) 6 (6-atha) 2 (EtOH) 6 ] [H 2 N-saoH = salicylamidoxime, 6-atha = 6-acetylthiohexanoate] complex that is attached to alkane tethers terminated with thiols. These Mn-based molecules were electrochemically bonded between the two Ni electrodes of an exposed-edge tunnel junction, which was produced by the lift-off method. The SMM-treated MTJ exhibited current enhancement and transitory current suppression at room temperature. Monte Carlo simulation was utilized to understand the transport properties of our molecular spintronics device. 
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                            - Award ID(s):
- 1914751
- PAR ID:
- 10176849
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- RSC Advances
- Volume:
- 10
- Issue:
- 22
- ISSN:
- 2046-2069
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 13006 to 13015
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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