Giant Rashba splitting in graphene due to hybridization with gold

摘要: Graphene in spintronics is predominantly considered for spin current leads of high performance due to weak intrinsic spin–orbit coupling of the graphene π electrons. Externally induced large spin–orbit coupling opens the possibility of using graphene in active elements of spintronic devices such as the Das-Datta spin field-effect transistor. Here we show that Au intercalation at the graphene–Ni interface creates a giant spin–orbit splitting (~ 100 meV) of the graphene Dirac cone up to the Fermi energy. Photoelectron …