Simulation of Transport through Graphene Quantum Dots Coated with Single-Molecule Magnets

Single molecule magnets have promising potential applications as a form of new high density magnetic memory due to their small size. Here we aim to show that the spin-valve effect can be used to read the magnetization of single molecule magnets deposited on top of a graphene quantum dot. By simulating such a system with a tight binding model using the Kwant quantum transport package [1], we show that distinct current levels are visible depending on the orientation of the magnetization of the molecules. While the relationship between these current levels and the bias voltage across the dot is complicated, it could provide a way to observe the magnetic state of the molecules via transport measurements.

[1] C. W. Groth, M. Wimmer, A. R. Akhmerov, X. Waintal, Kwant: a software package for quantum transport, New J. Phys. 16, 063065 (2014).