Linear and nonlinear thermal spin transport properties of zigzag α-graphyne nanoribbons with sp2-sp3 edges

In this paper, we investigated the electronic structures and thermal spin transport properties of zigzag alpha-graphyne nanoribbons (N-Z alpha GYNRs) with sp(2)-sp(3) edges. As N increased, the results showed that Z alpha GYNRs undergo a transformation from indirect-band-gap bipolar magnetic semiconductors into half-metallic materials. We then designed two spin caloritronics devices based on two representative Z alpha GYNRs with N = 4 and N = 12. Both linear and nonlinear thermal spin transport properties were found in the 4-Z alpha GYNRs device, but only linear thermal spin transport properties could be found in the 12-Z alpha GYNRs device. These discoveries indicate that Z alpha GYNRs are potential candidate materials for spin caloritronics device applications.

Automated summary

The study found that zigzag alpha-graphyne nanoribbons undergo a transformation from indirect-band-gap bipolar magnetic semiconductors into half-metallic materials as the parameter N increases. Two spin caloritronics devices based on representative N = 4 and N = 12 alpha-graphene nanoribbons were designed, showing linear and nonlinear thermal spin transport properties in the former and only linear properties in the latter. These findings suggest that alpha-graphyne nanoribbons are potential candidates for spin caloritronics device applications.