%0 Journal Article
%T Graphene on transition-metal dichalcogenides: a platform for proximity spin-orbit physics and optospintronics
%A Martin Gmitra
%A Jaroslav Fabian
%J Physics
%D 2015
%I arXiv
%R 10.1103/PhysRevB.92.155403
%X Hybrids of graphene and two dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) have the potential to bring graphene spintronics to the next level. As we show here by performing first-principles calculations of graphene on monolayer MoS$_2$, there are several advantages of such hybrids over pristine graphene. First, Dirac electrons in graphene exhibit a giant global proximity spin-orbit coupling, without compromising the semimetallic character of the whole system at zero field. Remarkably, these spin-orbit effects can be very accurately described by a simple effective Hamiltonian. Second, the Fermi level can be tuned by a transverse electric field to cross the MoS$_2$ conduction band, creating a system of coupled massive and massles electron gases. Both charge and spin transport in such systems should be unique. Finally, we propose to use graphene/TMDC structures as a platform for optospintronics, in particular for optical spin injection into graphene and for studying spin transfer between TMDC and graphene.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/1506.08954v1