Quantum Monte Carlo study of one-dimensional transition metal organometallic cluster systems and their suitability as spin filters

We present calculations of electronic and magnetic structures of vanadium-benzene multidecker clusters V$_{n}$Bz$_{n+1}$ ($n$ = 1 - 3) using advanced quantum Monte Carlo methods. These and related systems have been identified as prospective spin filters in spintronic applications, assuming that their ground states are half-metallic ferromagnets. Although we find that magnetic properties of these multideckers are consistent with ferromagnetic coupling, their electronic structures do not appear to be half-metallic as previously assumed. In fact, they are ferromagnetic insulators with large and broadly similar $\uparrow$-/$\downarrow$-spin gaps. This makes the potential of these and related materials as spin filtering devices very limited, unless they are further modified or functionalized.