Patent ID: 7274080

Claim:
A device, comprising: a first layer that includes at least one magnetic material from the group consisting of ferromagnetic materials and ferrimagnetic materials; a MgO tunnel barrier in contact with the first layer; and a second layer that includes semiconductor material, the second layer being in contact with the MgO tunnel barrier, the MgO tunnel barrier being sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer, thereby forming a first spintronic element, wherein the first layer, the MgO tunnel barrier, and the second layer are configured to enable spin-polarized charge carrier transport between the semiconductor material and the magnetic material, wherein each of the MgO tunnel barrier and the semiconductor material is crystalline, and wherein the first layer, the MgO tunnel barrier, and the second layer are configured so that, upon application of a voltage across the device, the spin polarization of charge carriers flowing between the MgO tunnel barrier and the semiconductor material is greater than 20%.