Iron nanoparticle driven spin-valve behavior in aligned carbon nanotube arrays

We report the operation of spin-valve structures formed from arrays of aligned carbon nanotubes. The devices require only one deposited ferromagnetic layer with the embedded iron catalyst nanoparticle serving as the other magnetic electrode. A peak in the resistance occurs clearly as a result of the reversal of the magnetization of the electrodes. Device magnetoresistance ratios reach 25%, yielding an estimate of the spin scattering length of 9μm at low temperature.