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  • Letter
  • Open Access

Twist angle controlled collinear Edelstein effect in van der Waals heterostructures

Alessandro Veneri1,*, David T. S. Perkins1,*, Csaba G. Péterfalvi2, and Aires Ferreira1,†

  • 1Department of Physics and York Centre for Quantum Technologies, University of York, YO10 5DD York, United Kingdom
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Konstanz, D-78464 Konstanz, Germany

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †aires.ferreira@york.ac.uk
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Phys. Rev. B 106, L081406 – Published 18 August, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.106.L081406

Abstract

The generation of spatially homogeneous spin polarization by application of electric current is a fundamental manifestation of symmetry-breaking spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in solid-state systems, which underpins a wide range of spintronic applications. Here, we show theoretically that twisted van der Waals heterostructures with proximity-induced SOC are candidates par excellence to realize exotic spin-charge transport phenomena due to their highly tunable momentum-space spin textures. Specifically, we predict that graphene/group-VI dichalcogenide bilayers support room temperature spin-current responses that can be manipulated via twist-angle control. For critical twist angles, the nonequilibrium spin density is pinned parallel to the applied current. This effect is robust against twist-angle disorder, with graphene/WSe2 possessing a critical angle (purely collinear response) of θc≃14∘. A simple electrical detection scheme to isolate the collinear Edelstein effect is proposed.

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Phys. Rev. B 106, L081406– Published 18 August, 2022
  • Received 10 May 2022
  • Revised 2 July 2022
  • Accepted 6 July 2022
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