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Interface States In Cofe2o4 Spin-Filter Tunnel Junctions, Pavel V. Lukashev, John D. Burton, Alexander Smogunov, Julian P. Velev, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal

Evgeny Tsymbal Publications

Spin-filter tunneling is a promising way to generate highly spin-polarized current, a key component for spintronics applications. In this paper we explore the tunneling conductance across the spin-filter material CoFe₂O₄ interfaced with Au electrodes, a geometry which provides nearly perfect lattice matching at the CoFe₂O₄/Au(001) interface. Using density functional theory calculations we demonstrate that interface states play a decisive role in controlling the transport spin polarization in this tunnel junction. For a realistic CoFe₂O₄ barrier thickness, we predict a tunneling spin polarization of about −60%. We show that this value …