Magnetotransport Properties of Magnetic Oxides

Hybrid spintronic devices require high Curie temperature ferromagnets with a large transport spin polarization. It has been predicted that efficient spin injection is facilitated by matching the conductance of the ferromagnet to that of the semiconductor and in this respect dilute magnetic semiconductors look to be more attractive for application. Oxide dilute magnetic semiconductors are the only class to date that may offer Curie Temperatures above 300K. Here we review the effect of chemical substitution and/or growth parameters on the magnetic, magnetotransport and spin polarisation of charge carriers of a range of functional ferromagnetic oxides, such as Fe$_{3}$O$_{4}$, Nd$_{2}$Mo$_{2}$O$_{7}$, Co$_{x}$Ti$_{1-x}$O$_{2}$ and Co$_{x}$Zn$_{1-x}$O.