Title

Controlling spin-polarized electron transport through a molecule: The role of molecular conformation

Authors

L. Senapati, Naval Research Laboratory
Ranjit Pati, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
S. C. Erwin, Michigan Technological University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-31-2007

Abstract

We investigate theoretically the spin-polarized electron transport through a complex organic molecule coupled to magnetic contacts. Our focus is on how low-energy deformations of the molecule affect the current-voltage characteristics and the magnetotransport of this molecular-scale device. We find that fairly modest deformations, costing only a few tens of meVs, can substantially change the tunneling current—by factors of 2 or more. Such deformations have still larger impact on the magnetoresistance, with small changes in molecular conformation even leading to changes in the sign of the magnetoresistance.

Publisher's Statement

© 2007 American Physical Society. Article deposited here in compliance with publisher policy. Publisher's version of record: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.76.024438

Publication Title

Physical Review B

Recommended Citation

Senapati, L., Pati, R., & Erwin, S. C. (2007). Controlling spin-polarized electron transport through a molecule: The role of molecular conformation. Physical Review B, 76. http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.76.024438
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/physics-fp/131

Version

Publisher's PDF