Bias pulse-controlled thermal spin injector based a single-molecule magnet tunneling junction

Abstract An electric pulse-controlled thermal spin injector is theoretically proposed, which consists of a junction with a single-molecule magnet sandwiched between the ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic leads. By applying a temperature gradient and a time-varying bias pulses across the junction, the spin direction of the single-molecule magnet can be controlled to be antiparallel or parallel to the magnetization of the ferromagnetic lead by a spin-transfer torque effect, and the spin polarization of thermoelectric current tunneling through this junction can be switched from + 100 % to − 100 % corresponding to a molecule’s spin orientation, respectively. Our numerical results show that the spin polarization of the thermoelectric current will not be easily affected by the magnetization of electrodes, which can be fully and precisely tuned in electric manner. This device scheme can be compatible with current technologies and has potential applications in future spin caloritronics devices.