Effects of impurity on tunnel magnetoresistance in a ferromagnetic electrode/carbon nanotube/ferromagnetic electrode junction

Effects of impurity on the spin-dependent transport in a single wall carbon nanotube spin-valve, as ferromagnetic electrode/carbon nanotube/ferromagnetic electrode model junction is numerically investigated. Using a generalized Green's function method and the Landauer–Büttiker formalism, the impurity conditions are determined by randomly substitution of carbon atoms in the honeycomb carbon nanotube lattice by nitrogen and boron atoms. We have found that transport characteristics, including the spin-dependent current and tunnel magnetoresistance are strongly influenced by the impurity effects. We think that the results of the present report could be useful for designing the future spintronic devices. (author)