Manipulating spin polarization of electrons in nonmagnetic semiconductors by means of electric fields or optical fields is an essential theme of the conceptual nonmagnetic semiconductor-based spintronics. Here we experimentally demonstrate a method of generating spin polarization in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) by the circularly polarized optical pumping. The fully spin-polarized photocurrent is achieved through the valley dependent optical selection rules and the spin-valley locking in monolayer WS2, and electrically detected by a lateral spin-valve structure with ferromagnetic contacts. The demonstrated long spin lifetime, the unique valley contrasted physics and the spin-valley locking make monolayer WS2 an unprecedented candidate for semiconductor based spintronics.
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