Temperature dependence of magneto-transport properties in Co₂Fe(Ga_0.5Ge_0.5)/Cu lateral spin valves

The non-local spin signals of Co₂Fe(Ga_0.5Ge_0.5)/Cu lateral spin valves with sub-micron size dimensions were measured with varying temperatures. The non-local spin signal reaches 54 mΩ at 4 K, while it degrades down to 13 mΩ at room temperature. Analysis based on the one-dimensional spin diffusion model clarifies the dominant source for degrading of the spin signal is suppression of the spin diffusion length in Cu, not the spin polarization, indicating Co₂Fe(Ga_0.5Ge_0.5) keeps half-metallic nature even at room temperature. The temperature dependence of non-local spin signal was found to exhibit a downturn at 36 K. The presence of magnetic impurities, detrimental effect of which becomes more pronounced for diffusive transport in long Cu wires, is suggested to cause the observed downturn in non-local spin signals.